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BLUE BELLE OF 
THE FOREST 

A Story of the Olden Time, in the Middle West. 


By 


MATILDA DOWNING UNDERWOOD 


Copyright Applied For, 1919. 
Journal'Repubican Print 
Wilmington, Ohio 


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PREFACE. 


The writer of this story owes the harvest of thought 
that comes from out the past, to her love for hearing old 
folks talk. As a child she listened while they related 
tales and incidents that occurred in their youth and all 
through their long lives. 

Early in life she left her mountain home. In Ohio, 
where she settled as a farmer's wife, these things remain- 
ed stored in her mind while she cared for her country 
home, until the little ones who came, grew to manhood 
and womanhood, and were settled in homes of their own. 
All except one who remained enshrined in her mother's 
heart, always her beautiful angel child, assisting her in 
keeping the Golden Rule adopted in early life, while she 
filled to the brim her cup of duty in life, caring for her 
mother after she was unable to keep up a home of her 
own, until after many years the dear invalid sister, the 
afflicted husband and aged mother were all gathered to 
a better home. The latter, who lingered until her re- 
markable memory spanned ninety years, had an uncle, 
Jehu Bailey, who spent many years with the Indians. 
She also belonged to a Yearly Meeting of the religious 
Society of Friends, held in Baltimore, who sent a commit- 
tee from its membership each year to visit tribes of In- 
dians in the far West, when their only mode of traveling 
was on horse back. 


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BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


In old Dick Run school house near the foot of the 
Alleghenies, when a young school girl, the writer read 
these lines in her lesson, as they are given below : 


“The cruel Indian had been there, 
My wife lay scalped upon the bed, 
My daughter gone, I knew not where. 
My son beside his mother dead.” 


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Blue Belle of the Forest 


CHAPTER I. 

A CAPTIVE FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE. 

I T was midnight when a band of cavalrymen halted near 
the foot of the Allegheny Mountains. They were 
weary, but soon had a fire and a hastily prepared supper, 
after which they were not long in making their beds 
from the abundance of pine and spruce shrubbery that 
grew there. Spreading their blankets upon them, their 
saddles underneath for pillows, they were soon stretched 
out around the fire, all but one of the younger men, al- 
most a boy, who had been pressed into service a few 
days before. He was restlessly wandering farther 
away where the horses were grazing and as he stood 
stroking a young roan horse, all that was left to him of 
home and friends, the Captain, whoso orders were al- 
ready repugnant to him, called out his number, saying, 
‘Tie Roan and get down on your blanket for we will 
be up early to drive out all the redskins from the 
mountain westward.'’ 

The young man stood there almost paralyzed. 
“Must I submit, contrary to what my conscience tells me 


2 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


is right? Why did my parents impress upon my mind 
the Bible teachings of Christ to be my example, to regu- 
late all tny actions toward all people, if I am to be com- 
pelled to help drive these owners of the soil away from 
their homes, and to kill and destroy them.'^ 

He tied his horse and came into the camp, taking 
his place among the soldiers, but he could not sleep. 
When all was quiet, the voices of the night seemed call- 
ing to him to obey God speaking in his soul, rather than 
man who would soon perish. He arose, as the fire 
burned low, folding his blanket around his saddlebags 
and other equipment, went to his horse and stroking his 
neck he prepared him for traveling, led him away to a 
woodland path leading westward, and mounting him, 
went on his way until he struck the Indian trail. 

When his provisions were gone he allowed himself 
to be captured by a band of Indians, out on the war 
path in behalf of the French, who with them occupied 
most of the Ohio Valley at that time. Even while 
they were taking him, with his horse, as a prisoner to 
their village, he felt more peace of mind than he did 
while going out to destroy them. Though they might 
take his life here because he could not be understood, 
all would be well with his soul life, for no outward thing, 
not even the destroying of his body in which he lived, 
could separate him from Christ in whom he had eternal 
life. 

For this reason, though a stranger in the midst of 
a silent band of Indians, his trusting heart was com- 
forted. 

Finding him equipped as a soldier had aroused 
their suspicion, and when they disarmed him and sternly 
pointed out the way he should go, he showed no reluc- 


A CAPTIVE. 


3 


tance but cheerfully plodded along the trail, hoping he 
would not have far to go before reaching their camp, 
as he was becoming faint from lack of food. They had 
not gone far when sounds of musical voices mingled 
with joyous laughter was heard somewhere above them 
on the hills beyond the river and soon the smoke of an 
Indian settlement was in sight. 


CHAPTER II. 


LOST IN THE FOREST. 

M ore than two decades from the time he was taken 
by the Indians another young man was wending his 
way through the same forest westward. Great changes 
had taken place. The settlements, though far apart, were 
growing in number. Land was being cleared and culti- 
vated throughout the Middle West. Ambition led him, 
like many others, to leave his comfortable home in the 
East and alone seek his fortune in a far off country. 
Among the hills and many trails in the eastern part of 
the Ohio Valley he was bewildered and finally lost his 
way entirely and when the forest became more dense, 
even the Indian trail westward was not to be found. 

While he was wandering around he saw a bunch 
of hogs. He scarcely knew what they were at first, as 
they were tall and lank with the peculiar wild appear- 
ance. Then there were so many more than he had ever 
seen together before. Finally their appearance sug- 
gested wild hogs. They all came running from every 
direction in the woods to a more open spot, and putting 
their heads together all stood still and seemed to be 
listening and holding a council meeting until all were 
quiet awhile. Then they suddenly struck out, running 
in another direction. After this had been repeated 
several times he was beginning to be disgusted with 
their uncanny actions. 


LOST IN THE FOREST. 


5 


The shades of evening were fast coming down on the 
forest where he dreaded to spend another night alone. 
Feeling for his flint and looking as he went, for a hollow 
tree, or some other suitable place, to kindle a fire if 
necessary to keep away wild beasts, he still managed to 
keep in sight of the hogs. The prospect was getting 
more and more gloomy. 

‘'To be sure the horse can find something to graze 
on and I may come across a turkey or some kind of 
game ; I can cook it and keep from starving for awhile.^' 
But this was not necessary. 

The hogs had entered a clearing. A dim light, as 
from oiled paper windows, could be seen in the distance, 
and his heart filled with pleasant anticipation of finding 
humanity in the wilderness. 

Then fear stole over him. Might it not be Indians, 
and if it were he would sooner risk staying alone with 
the wild beasts than fall into the hands of some cruel 
Indians. But that amount of cleared land must be the 
work of a white man, he would venture closer. 

“Whoa, Barniel Quiet now, we must keep in the 
edge of the woods until we can get closer without be- 
ing seen.'' 

The hogs had disappeared and quite a clearing 
opened up on the farther side of the hill. By the light 
of the rising moon the outlines of a good-sized log house 
could be seen and on a bench by the door sat a man 
whose appearance was that of a middle-aged white man. 

Coming out of the shadow of the forest he crossed 
the log bridge that spanned the swiftly running brook 
and turned toward the house in the lane through the 
orchard. 

The sound of the horse's feet on the bridge had 


6 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


aroused the man from meditation, and as he came nearer 
he reached for his gun, calling out, “Who comes there?'' 

“Don't shoot, father," called a voice from within. 
“I am sure he is a traveler and may be lost, I have been 
watching him for some time." 

“Well you should have told me, Isabell." 

“I could not tell what it was until he came out of 
the woods below the bridge. Not coming in on the 
road, I was surprised to see a man on horseback coming 
out of the thick woods. I thought at first it was a 
panther, you know how they slip along and are afraid 
to come into the open when we have our lights burning." 

The horseman, who had halted in the shadow of 
the trees, on hearing her voice now came forward and 
greeted her father. 

“I am sure enough glad to see some one of my own 
kind. I have been lost in the forest and you may be 
sure I had no desire to find any of the red men, though 
some of them are not so bad." 

“Yes, that is true considering the way they have 
been treated. You are welcome though, and I should 
have taken you in if you had been a native of the soil. 
I know you must be tired. Get off your horse and 
bring your things into the house." 

“Daughter, bring a light." 

The girl, who had been at the window, hearing 
their conversation, soon appeared at the door, lamp in 
hand, and met the stranger who stood there in the 
flickering light of the large grease lamp, holding his 
blankets and saddle bags on one arm, the bridle reins 
over the other. 

If his voice thrilled the heart of the lonely girl and 
enlisted her interest, his magnificent form, expressive 


LOST IN THE FOREST. 


7 


eyes and gentle, courteous manner won her full ad- 
miration. 

Her father took charge of the horse, while she led 
the way into the house. A great yellow dog interfered 
at the door. She said, ‘'Never mind, Carlo, this is our 
guest. Go back to your kennel.'' And he went away 
satisfied. 

“You can put your things on this chest until father 
comes in," which he did and went out to assist in caring 
for his horse. 

Coming into the kitchen, she preceded to rake the 
coals from the ashes, where they had been covered after 
supper. She soon had a nice fire and an appetizing 
meal on the way, by adjusting the kettle on the iron 
crane and hanging the long handled skillet beside it, 
in which she had placed some slices of bacon, and 
bringing the home-made hominy out ready to put over 
the fire as soon as the meat was done. 

When they returned from caring for the horse the 
odor of a good supper greeted him. Like many another 
man he was ready to look with favor on the fair maid 
who could prepare such an appetizing meal. 

“I see you cure pork the same as we do at home, 
which I would not have thought possible to do away out 
in the forest," he said, addressing her father. 

“Oh yes! We have cleared quite a lot of land 
here and raise Indian corn enough to feed the hogs, be- 
side what we need for our horses, cows and oxen." 

“You do not mean to say you feed the com you 
raise to the wild hogs, do you?" 

“Oh yes! I take an armful of corn, climb over 
the rail fence and go into the woods. There I break 
it on a tree. I soon have all the hogs, that are near 


6 BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 

enough to hear, after that com. I don't want to get 
them to coming too near the fence, they might break 
through into the field and destroy my whole crop.” 

Then the stranger related his experience following 
the hogs and how they acted. The farmer laughed until 
the tears rolled down his sunburnt cheeks. 

Well it is too funny, they hear woodpeckers thump- 
ing and think I am out somewhere breaking corn. It was 
my big drove of wild hogs that brought you to our Forest 
Home, then. Well, I call that a good joke. It’s like the old 
saying ‘It’s an ill wind that blows no good.’ ” 

“It was a fortunate thing for me that I followed 
them. But have you any neighbors? 

“Oh yes! There are some settlements fifteen or 
twenty miles from us now. I have lived in this wilderness 
about twenty years. I was with the Indians part of the 
time, away from all the white folks, with the exception of 
a young girl I found among them. 

“The old Chief and his Squaw, who were her adopt- 
ed parents, thought a great deal of her. In fact they had 
trained her up as their own ; and, of course, they seemed 
to think more of her than they did of their own papooses, 
as they call them. They were proud of her not only be- 
cause of her beauty, for she was endowed with a cheer- 
ful and fascinating disposition that would enable her to 
win the effection of all who new her. In fact, it is the kind 
that can tame the wild beasts and soften the hearts of the 
fiercest savages. 

“When she was brought to the Indian village, the 
ones who could best appreciate and meet the needs of 
the lonely child adopted her and gave her the love and 
care by which she could grow. It is my opinion she was 


LOST IN THE FOREST. 


9 


taken out of a home of culture and refnement into that 
log hut in the forest. 

^The one redeeming feature in this was her adopted 
mother, who in her early life, back in the mountains of 
Pennsylvania, had mingled with white people, and from 
her appearance and disposition, the probability is she 
had a parent, perhaps a father, of our race. Well let that 
be as it will, she could appreciate the girls fine traits of 
character. I never knew the Chief, her adopted father, 
to cross her in any of her wishes. During the first year I 
was with them, in her wild, free life, she appeared happy 
and contented. 

‘‘Through her influence I was taken into their band 
as one of them, after the council of the Chiefs. In the days 
that elapsed, before these could be brought together, I 
was guarded as a prisoner, not knowing what my sen- 
tence would be. 

“The .Chief of the band of Half Moon, who captur- 
ed me, appeared to have much influence in the tribe. He 
sat watching me by the hour each day, as if wishing to 
know me better. How I wished I could get him to under- 
stand my language. His family showed much interest in 
me, as well as my horse. His Squaw could understand 
some things I tried to say. She seemed like one in earnest 
reflection trying to comprehend something that had been 
forgotten long ago. 

“The little white girl was the same, they called her 
Blue Belle. I soon found out they could understand me 
better than the others, so when they brought me food and 
drink I managed to get them to know I wished them to 
keep my horse, as I had noticed they admired him. By 
signs they promised me they would not let any of the 
other Indians have him. 


10 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


‘‘By the time enough of the Chiefs could be brought 
together for council, Blue Belle and her foster mother 
had enlisted the interest of the other Chiefs families, as 
well as Half Moon. It was decided that, if I wished to 
stay with their tribe of Indians and be one of Half Moon's 
band, I could do so. I can not tell you of the days and 
weeks and years that followed. 

“While I was one of that band of Indians, with my 
horse an object of interest to the whole tribe, I joined 
them on their hunt. My experience with them was great. 
In helping to raise corn, beans and everything they were 
engaged in doing, I had the opportunity to enlarge their 
gardens and fence them with stones and stakes. While 
finding the most fertile ground and clearing it up for 
their squaws to plant I gained the good will of all of thepi. 

“It was suprising how rapidly they learned my lan- 
guage while we were together doing the different kinds 
of work I had been taught to do on the farm at my own 
home. When corn husking time came the young braves 
joined with us. We had a great deal of sport watching to 
get the red ears of corn. They trusted me, then I had the 
care and use of my horse. I had for my companions Blue 
Belle, Muncy and her brother, Ocolia, almost constantly. 
They helped me to cut skins and make harness for my 
horse; then we got poles and constructed a rude sled to 
haul wood and bring in the game after a hunt. The 
squaws were delighted with my work, and I was quite 
a hero among them. While I longed for home, the con- 
ditions from which I had escaped later made me more 
than satisfied to be of service to the Indians rather than 
to help slay them. 


CHAPTER III. 


THE ATTIC ROOM. 

HI SEE your candle has been lighted so I will show you 
1 the way to bed.'* 

“Yes" said the stranger, “I must admit that I need 
rest, but I am very much interested in your account of 
your early life and the home you have founded here in the 
wilderness. I trust when morning comes I will be able 
to learn more of your life and surroundings. It will be 
a great pleasure to me to see your garden, orchards and 
fields." 

Theji taking up his saddle bags, together they 
mounted the rough stairway to a large attic room, where 
the host pointed to a comfortable looking bed, and setting 
the candle on a rustic stand, while wishing him good 
night, descended with a firm step to the kitchen below. 

Finding he was in a very peculiar place the guest 
sat down on a chair to survey his surroundings. He dis- 
covered that the furnishings were all home-made. From 
the rafters hung a great variety of dried meats and linen 
bags, which from appearance contained dried com and 
fruits, both large and small. On the floor were large box- 
es or trunks, the wooden frames artistically covered with 
bark. These were filled with skins of all kinds of wild 
animals, from the buffalo to the most delicate fawn. 

Somewhat under the eaves, but wide enough to ex- 
tend beneath the joist, were the beds of simple construe- 


12 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


tion. The bedsteads were made of poles or small trees, 
with the bark pealed off, and made solid with the comers 
mortised. On the rails were wooden pins far enough apart 
to hold the cords on which the bedding was placed. These 
cords were made of skins, split and spliced, work that 
required a great deal of time and patience. But he found 
it a comfortable bed to rest upon; made, no doubt, he 
thought, by his genial host and his companion, who must 
have enjoyed the work of their own hands. The linen and 
blankets were coarser in texture than the fine ones he 
was used to at home. Yet everthing was pure and clean 
and he was glad to have the pleasure of stretching his 
weary limbs on a good bed. 

In this house he was safe from all kinds of wild 
animals and Indians; after snuffing out the candle the 
moon cast wierd shadows through a small window that 
had lattice work, and oil paper for light. The night air 
caused the leaves and branches of the trees to move 
gently, which made the light of the moon cast shadows 
around the room. A sense of loneliness came over him 
as he thought of home and how he had wandered away 
from his relatives and friends, and no doubt his mother's 
prayers were following her boy. While he closed his eyes 
something like secret prayer and communion of soul 
seemed to be lulling him to sleep. 

But hark! What noise was that? Some one walking 
outside and coming towards the house. The door was 
unbarred to admit them. I wonder who it can be. I sup- 
pose somebody belonging to the family. It must be the 
girl's brother and he has been away hunting. 

It was evident there was only one individual who 
came into the house. While listening to catch the sound 
of their voices below he was unable to distinguish one 


THE ATTIC ROOM. 


13 


word from another. By this time he awoke to the situa- 
tion. He heard a sound as if some one was sharpening a 
large knife on a whetstone. This act caused him to fear. 
With that pleasant girl and her father he felt that he 
was safe and out of harms way. If mistaken in his con- 
fidence, all he could do would be to wait for time to de- 
cide the sequence of events. It was possible they had no 
wrong intentions. He might be getting his knife ready to 
dress some kind of game he had brought with him. But 
now he heard him talking very low to some person at the 
foot of the steps. Now he was coming up and seemed to 
be without a light while ascending the stairway. 

At that moment a cloud must have obscured the 
moon for all was dark in that strange room. The stealthy 
step had now reached the landing and was coming to- 
ward the bed, just as a gleam of moonlight showed the 
outline of a man with a knife in his hand. 

He felt under his pillow for his pistol in the spirit of 
self defense. Before he could draw it, with a quicker 
movement, the hand holding the knife had reached up 
to the joist and cut off a string of sausage above his head 
and quietly slipped down stairs. 

He heard the voice of the girl saying **Oh ! brother, 
I am jso glad you got it. I do want something good for 
breakfast. Do you think he heard you? 

‘‘Yes, he moved but I got it and hurried away, so 
that I would not disturb him.” 

The young stranger, hearing this, said to himself, 
“While I seemed to be in danger of my life, I might have 
taken his ; but if that had happened I never would have 
forgiven myself, after their kindness and good intentions. 
This circumstance will make me be careful of my actions 
where life is at stake. Under excitement we can do things 


14 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


that would be worse than death to us, as far as mental 
suffering is concerned.'' 

Being in good health this shock to his nerves did 
not prevent his falling asleep. When he awoke next 
morning, the sun shining through the window casement 
lighted up the dark corners of the room so that he could 
see that every place was filled with various articles in- 
tended for the wants and use of the home. 

The wool cards were showing their teeth in the 
darkness with which had been made the fine long rolls 
of wool that filled a large box to overflowing. Another 
box was filled with hackled tow, material enough for 
a whole winter's spinning. The powder horns, pouches 
and saddle bags, made of skins and many other things, 
hung on wooden pins. Also the long row of Indian 
blankets were very interesting to see as they bore 
traces of the finer finish of a woman's hand. 

He could have lain for a long time looking at the 
curious articles that were hanging in all directions. But 
the birds were singing their morning songs and he could 
hear the family moving around in the rooms below. 
Having an idea that breakfast would soon be ready he 
arose with a grateful heart and soon descended to the 
kitchen. As he entered his sense of vision brought be- 
fore him the interesting maiden of the night before. 
The brown eyes and dark auburn hair brightened to 
glistening gold in the morning sunlight, in the open door. 
He thought her face more beautiful than he had ever 
beheld, as she turned to introduce him to her brother, 
who was somewhat taller than his sister. 

Just then the father came in with a smiling face 
and greeted the stranger, saying, '‘We are all very hap- 
py this morning. As you may be glad to hear, my son 


THE ATTIC ROOM. 


15 


returned from Columbus last night and brought good 
news from his mother.” 

‘'Yes indeed,” replied the stranger. “I was inter- 
ested last night after what you had told me of her. 
Not seeing her, whom I supposed was the one you called 
Blue Belle, I was afraid to inquire, as I thought she 
might not be living.” 

“Oh! thank God she is surely alive and will soon 
be home. She was with the Indians from early child- 
hood. When they were driven from the Ohio Valley 
westward, her sympathy was aroused, and she mourned 
for them as shie would if they had been her own people. 
Yet her love for me was a stronger tie, which, no doubt, 
kept her from going with them wherever they went. 
Next to the Indians she was most interested in the 
French, having often visited them at their Forts, for 
they were very pleasant and kind to the Indians. 

“Then the English came on with their great arma- 
ment, and with the eastern Colonists engaged in war. 
Her favorite place. Fort Duquesne, was near enough to 
our home, the cave on the steep hillside above the river, 
that we could see the flames from the burning Fort 
when the French left it and sailed away down the river 
to return no more. The name was changed to Pitts- 
burgh, and the English flag floated above it. 

“Yes, yes, Isabell, we will come.” And they were 
soon seated around the steaiming, hot breakfast and with 
bowed heads listened to the few words of thanksgiving 
that came from a full heart for their manifold 
blessings. 

As soon as the meal was far enough on the way, 
their guest, made to feel at home with them, requested 


16 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


to hear more of the whereabouts of the absent one, and 
if she had been long from home. 

'*Oh, yes, she is in the far West. Nearly a year 
ago she heard that her (almost) mother was ill and 
longing to see her Blue Belle. One of the Miamis com- 
ing east to see the grandfather, as they call the Presi- 
dent of the United States, brought the message ; also an 
urgent request from her red sister, Muncy, for us to 
come if possible. But it is a long way to their new 
hunting grounds, and much as we desired to go to them, 
the leaving of our home, for which we had toiled so 
long, to make what it is, seemed impossible. To leave 
the children alone here in our forest home was not to 
be thought of, as we would have to be gone so long ; and 
we felt that it would be too great an undertaking for her 
to go alone all the way on horseback. However, 
while we were trying to solve the problem, a way, unex- 
pectedly, opened for her going without any delay. As 
we heard of some Missionaries stopping to rest at Mount 
Vernon on their way to the Indian Territory. A man 
and his wife, who would be the best of company all the 
way. 

‘Though she regretted the long separation from her 
family, she feels very much at home in the saddle, not 
hesitating on account of the distance, for she is deeply 
attached to the red people, especially the only mother 
and sister she had known from childhood and had not 
seen for so many years. 

“Well we received a letter last night, the first word 
we have had for several months. She is well and hopes 
to be with us by the latter part of October; only a few 
weeks as the month comes in to-morrow. She and her 


THE ATTIC ROOM. 


17 


sister were almost ready to start on their eastward 
journey when she sent the letter. 

‘‘Muncy being left alone, as far as her family is 
concerned, since her mother is gone, and she never 
saw fit to marry, now clings to my wife and longs to 
come back to the Ohio hills where they spent all the 
years of their girlhood together. I hope we can receive 
her as one of our family, for she has been a faithful 
sister and a true friend to me. I am glad she is com- 
ing for our children have heard so much concerning her. 
I want them to see her and get acquainted with some 
one who knew their mother when she was a little child.” 

“Yes indeed,” said his daughter, “we sure enough 
are glad to hear Aunt Muncy is coming for mother has 
told us so much about her.” 

“My, we’ll have jolly times when they are both 
here,” said Frank. 


CHAPTER IV. 


THE CARPENTER. 

( ''said the farmer; turning to their guest; "son 
W and I have been talking about what we can do to 
improve the place. We want to do more farming next 
year, and have more and better stock, but we are more in- 
terested in improving the home at this time. We would 
like to have a pleasant suprise for the little mother when 
she gets here. Opportunity is opening for us now to do 
some things to make life more pleasant, and I think we 
should begin at the house. As you are from one of the old- 
er settlements I thought you could give us some new ideas. 
We hear of great improvements going on farther east 
since the war. People really have had poor encourage- 
ment and but little means while the country was in such 
an unsettled condition.” 

"Yes, I think I understand the situation. You have 
plenty of land but it is taking your time and strenght to 
get it cleared, and you are so far now from other things 
that are going on that you are at a loss to know how to 
proceed. Your enterprising spirit will be met before 
many years. Saw mills and factories are coming your 
way, and you will have a market for your produce at 
Pittsburg, as that place is growing wonderfully. Have 
you been there since the great packing houses were 
built? I had the pleasure of looking over them on my 
way out here. While my father is a farmer, there are 


THE CARPENTER. 


19 


many other concerns going on in this country that inter- 
est me at this time. I expect I can tell you more about 
things that are being made to make work easier. So 
far the land has been cleared in the most difficult way. 
It is simply wonderful how much has been accomplished 
with so little to do with ; but in making the effort we are 
being blessed with the spirit of construction, and we see 
how true it is That necessity is the mother of invention\ 
You see one boy out of a large family can be spared for 
that kind of work ; and some one is born with the ability 
to fill each one of the many kinds of work or to be a 
leader in opening the way for others in some great enter- 
prise for the world. My part is making use of some of 
the tools provided for constructive work ; in other words, 
I am a carpenter by trade.” 

”How fortunate,” said Isabell ; for that is just what 
will do us the most good.” 

“Yes indeed,” said her father; and now, Mr. Down- 
ing, I understand that is your name, if you can stay with 
us a few weeks I will be glad to give you a chance to ply 
your trade without going farther. Can I employ you? 

“Well I had not reached the part of the West I had 
in view when I left home. A friend of mine has located in 
the south-western part of the State, near a town named 
Wilmington. The county has been laid out and that 
place chosen for a seat. He writes me that carpenters 
are greatly in demand.” 

“To be sure they are, and wages good I have no 
doubt, but I will make it worth while if you will give us 
a few weeks of this fine weather. I could assist, and with 
a set of good tools, such as you are likely to have, we 
could soon have more than a log house with a clapboard 
roof if we do live in the forest.” 


20 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


‘T must say I admire your ambition in undertaking 
it. I do enjoy helping provide good homes in the 
country. You will have a beautiful place here in a few 
years, and I will enjoy taking a hand in the improve- 
ments you have in mind. I can write my friend, I have 
decided to tarry on the way and will not engage a job 
there for some time. Now I am anxious to look around 
your home by daylight as I was so favorably impressed 
with its appearance last night.’^ 

“All right we will give you a chance to look around 
before getting into business, sir.’' Turning to Isabell 
for a parting word as they left the table, he said; “Now 
my little girl you can be planning for a new house while 
we are away.” 

“Yes and getting the work done at the same time,” 
said she. “I always like to have something nice to 
think about when I have house work to do. Nothing 
could please me more than the prospect of having a 
new house when Mammy comes home. I can’t think 
of anything that could surprise her more than that 
would.” 

While her father lingered the others had passed the 
garden and bam ; halting now in front of the com cribs. 
As he approached they were talking about the great 
quantity of com stored away in the cribs, besides the new 
crop. 

“Looks as if you were prepared to fatten a lot of 
hogs. Sure I was just telling your boy, if you had a pen 
large enough for that drove I saw in the woods last eve- 
ning, and give them all the corn they could eat, you would 
soon have them in fine shape for market.” 

“Yes,” said the farmer; “I call those hogs mine, 
because like other wild animals they have no owner.” 


THE CARPENTER. 


21 


^‘Well that is all right. They have grown up on 
your land. I expect your hardest times are over for I 
see your barn, sheds and cribs have all been made and 
covered with timber cut and hewed with the ax and 
broadax.” 

“Yes,’^ said the pioneer; *'our chances for getting 
things to work with were smaller when I started in here, 
than they are now, but there were things left on the 
battle ground after Braddock's defeat, that could be 
utilized for making many things, besides the broad 
sword that was beat into plowshares and the spears we 
had for pruning hooks. 

‘‘We suppose when people were driven out of their 
homes they left their stock, especially their hogs; and 
they had to run wild and live on snakes, acorns and 
beech nuts. I suppose you have heard of Snake Island? 
How somebody who landed there left a mother hog, and 
when they returned some years afterwards, they found 
it covered with hogs, while the snakes had disappeared. 
So they changed it's name to Hog Island. A name that 
is likely to be retained." 

“Yes," said Frank; “for hogs are lots better than 
snakes. When we start into a new clearing we are glad 
to know that they have been through before us and de- 
voured the snakes." 

“Well," said the carpenter; “I suppose there will 
be plenty left in the forest after you have penned and 
fattened all you want or have corn for." 

“Oh, yes, and when the country is cleared it will 
not be necessary for them to be running wild. I was 
so glad to hear of an opportunity to sell them on foot. 
We could drive them that far easy enough, if they were 
fat. 


22 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


''Well they will gain flesh faster than you would 
think possible,” replied the carpenter. With so much 
room to run they never get satisfied or keep still long 
enough to gain much, if you do feed them well every day. 
They have to be penned for profitable feeding.” 

"How heavy do they have to be?” 

"I understand they take any that weigh sixty pounds 
and over.” 

"Well I have split rails enough for a large pen. Now 
that we have a market for the hogs we will build a fence 
right away. Frank knows how to do such things. He 
just wants something new in that line.” 

"Yes indeed,” said the boy. "If you will select the 
place I can haul the rails and build one without much 
help, as you will be busy with Mr. Downing.” 

"Yes, and he might be able to suggest a place and 
tell us how large it should be.” 

"That I will do with pleasure. Right here is a fine 
location. This corn pen is just as far as it should be 
from the water. Those trees will make a fine shade 
and do for your father to break corn on until they get 
started to coming in at the slip gap. You can soon have 
them tame and have very little trouble feeding them. 
You can pull a rail out at the bottom on the side of that 
pen and it will come out fast enough for them to help 
themselves; which they will do without your having to 
invite them.” 

"Well that is great. I think I can have it all ready 
to be occupied before evening, when they will be coming 
for corn.” 

"That's one thing settled,” said the farmer. "Now 
I am anxious to get back to the house and get our car- 
penter work planned, so you can make out the bill for 


THE CARPENTER. 


23 


lumber. Yes, of course, we can go around by the or- 
chard and up the lane if you wish.” 

“My ! you will have a great many apples this year.” 
I love to see the great limbs bending under the weight 
of the maturing fruit until they almost rest on the 
ground. Think it must be a pleasure to pick fruit like 
that.” 

“Yes, they are doing well. Expect we can load our 
wagons with them a little later and take to market and 
bring back lumber, after we get the work well started 
for the building.” 

“Yes,” said the carpenter; “I see that is foremost 
in your mind.” 

As they quickened their steps up the lane, passing 
row after row of trees, all equally fine, he said; “This is 
surely the best apple orchard I ever saw. The soil must 
be rich, judging from those trees. But where did you 
get such a variety of trees for planting in this isolated 
place?” 

“Why, out of Johnnie Appleseed's Nursery, of 
course. I am not sure that was his real name, but he 
was a man who did a great work for the western people, 
when he gathered seeds from the sider presses, or some 
where, and with them in his saddle bags, and on his 
faithful horse traveled over the wilderness, clearing our 
places and fencing them with his own hands. He 
planted and cultivated the nurseries that would supply 
the country with apple trees, and the settlers are in- 
debted to him for most of their orchards.” 

“As they drew near the house the farmer said ; the 
first thing to be decided is how the new apartment can 
be added, and such improvement as this one requires. 
Of course, we must let the old house stand.” 


24 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


So the carpenter walked around the quaint build- 
ing, looked it over from the top of the stone chimney to the 
clapboard roof, and carefully scanned the comers where 
the logs were joined and the smoothly finished daubing 
inserted. 

‘‘Well what do you think of it?'' said the owner 
when it was all inspected. 

“Why, it is my opinion it will be good for many 
years. You have used good timber and done a good 
job putting it together. It is one of the best of its kind 
and when the glass windows are put in and a coat of 
whitewash put on it will be a real nice looking house." 

“That was what we had planned to do before you 
came, but now we hope to have something nicer." 

“Well, of course, the new one will be better inside 
and will soon be needed to harmonize with other improve- 
ments on your farm, for you can have lumber from the 
mills now." 

“How about the doors, they are good yet, or do you 
want something finer?" 

“No, I think we would rather not have the old house 
changed much. After a while we can take off the heavy 
bars and let the latch string hang out for our friends 
when they come. What are you thinking about it little 
girl," said he to Isabell, who was standing in the front 
door listening to their conversation. 

“I think you are right in leaving the old house 
stand nearly as you made it,Daddy," she said. “I be- 
lieve it would be best to put the new one right in front 
of it and just as wide as it is, then we can have two 
large rooms on the first fioor and a hall and two or three 
rooms upstairs." 


THE CARPENTER. 


25 


‘"Yes, my dear, that all meets my approval, with one 
exception. I think we should provide for one spare bed 
room down stairs for a guest chamber, or in case of sick- 
ness."' 

‘‘Yes, I had not thought of that," said Isabell; it 
must be light and not to small." 

“Of course, and you can use it for a sewing room 
too. I wish your mother was here to help us plan." 

“Well if she were here she would leave it to you. 
That was what she said before she went away. We were 
talking on the subject of a new house, she said if we 
ever built another one you would have to be the archi- 
tect, as you had seen so many more homes than she ever 
had." 

The carpenter had been stepping off the ground 
while they were talking and just now came up with the 
suggestion that the new building be placed a few feet 
away from the old one, joining them by a porch between 
the doors, or it could be enclosed like a hall. 

“I think that would be more satisfactory than a lean- 

too." 

“Of course," said Isabell; then the light can come 
in at those windows and we can have a narrow bed for 
flowers and a little walk between the houses." 

“Won't that be fine? Then you can sit by the 
window and read and when you want a change look at 
the flowers and rest." 

“I know Mammy will like that." 

“Sure, sure that will be all right," said her father. 

“Now we are ready for the square. I brought all 
my smaller tools but that seemed unhandy to pack and 
I left it out. It must be the most important for we can't 
begin the job without one." 


26 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


'Well I have a wooden one I made myself/^ and he 
started to bring it but met his daughter at the foot of the 
stairs. 

"Here it is, Daddy. You have so many things but 
I found it in your tool chest. I think we will need this 
house if we get anything new.'' 

"Yes, indeed, girlie, we will have new things to 
furnish the new house, and have carpet and fine curtains 
too." 

"Yes, we will enjoy having pretty things, but I know 
Mammy and I will always love these big chairs and all 
the things you made with your own hands," she said; 
while they stood in the door and watched the carpenter, 
who on receiving the square had begun his work. "Dear 
old Forest Home must represent the past as well as the 
present." Then turning she hastened back to the kitch- 
en where many things were waiting for one pair of hands 
to do. 

The father went out to find Frank and arrange for 
making a trip to the saw mill, while the carpenter made 
out his bill for lumber that would be required for fram- 
ing the house. He found the boy unloading the last 
load of rails, all he thought would be required for build- 
ing the hog pen. 

"I am glad you have been so smart as we will be 
needing the oxen to go for lumber this afternoon. When 
you have unloaded the wagon and fed them I will have 
the fence started so you can work on it while I am away, 
for I know you are anxious to be getting it done. Isabell 
will have dinner early and if we are late getting back 
it will be moonlight. When we get ready for the trip 
to Pittsburgh you and Belle can both go. I want to get 
every thing necessary for the carpenter's work so he can 


THE CARPENTER. 


27 


be going on without being hindered, after he assists 
in selecting the lumber and getting nails, which I hope 
we can find on this trip. 

‘Tt will not be long until the sound of the hammer 
and saw will be heard, then we will do the rest of the 
hauling ourselves, and I will help the carpenter when I 
can. I am thinking it will be a busy fall for us for the 
cellar will be to dig, and the apples nearly ready to pick. 
I know where we can get stone for the wall, such nice 
smooth ones, and not very far to haul.^^ 

‘T am glad we are going to have use for them,” said 
Frank ; “as we can have brick for the chimney now.” 

“Yes I remember how you were interested seeing the 
men molding brick for a kiln to be burned soon,” said 
his father. “I believe it was near Steubenville.” 

The way to the lumber yard was made as fast as 
they could get the great lazy oxen to travel. Return- 
ing more slowly with the well loaded wagon. 


CHAPTER V. 


THE WOODS ROAD. 

said the carpenter; “ I enjoy traveling on 
W a road like this if we do have to go slow. The trees 
and undergrowth so thick on either side it appears to be 
enclosed by a green wall as far ahead as you can see. 
Then the tall trees far above us where the sun is shining, 
and so many birds have their leafy homes, giving us 
plenty of music all the way. I can appreciate a road, 
and consider the work of making one after being lost in 
a great woods where the trees stand so close together. 
I have heard that of all the land in the west that has been 
cleared so far, none is better, or more beautiful than the 
Ohio Valley.” 

*‘Yes,” replied the farmer; ‘‘but we have such great 
accounts from travelers of the rolling prairie country, 
all covered with grass and without a tree or bush for 
miles; as far as the eye can see. It must be wonder- 
ful. It occurs to me, however, that one might tire of 
the sameness. You know while you admire this road 
though the level part of the country, if it had been the 
same all the way, it wouldn’t be as enjoyable. Some- 
how we see things better or appreciate them more when 
we contrast them with something else. Now we soon 
come to the hills and our road winding around the steep- 
er ones and going over others, crossing the streams of 
running water, with rocks on either side, and the sound 


THE WOODS ROAD. 


29 


of waterfalls in the distance makes a variety. We an- 
ticipate something new as to scenery no matter how long 
our journey may be. I think we have as great a variety 
in this part of the country as can be found anywhere, 
as far as scenery is concerned.^’ 

‘‘Oh ! yes,^’ said the younger man \ “and we can by a 
little stretch of imagination get a glimpse of what it 
will be when the forest is cleared out. I hope when that 
time comes a few of the most perfect trees will be left 
standing besides the woodland.” 

“Yes when we are clearing out the undergrowth, 
so the grass can grow, we have our choice of trees to let 
stand. “Yes, and I am sparing the most perfect of the 
younger ones to take the place of the grand old oaks, hick- 
ories, poplars, beech, maples and others. That is one part 
of our clearing you have not seen. It is on the west end 
of the farm, on the side of the road toward Columbus. 
You will pass there on your way farther west. When not 
employed in clearing land for cultivation of crops we 
have a little spare time and I enjoy working on that, as 
it is not so destructive as making a clean sweep. It re- 
quires the cutting and burning of so many fine trees. 
Now that saw mills are being established, I suppose we 
will be able to get something for the very best of the 
large logs, though many that would have made the fin- 
est kind of lumber have been all rolled together and 
consumed.” 

“Yes,” said the young carpenter; “I am glad a few 
men understand and are willing to save what may be 
useful for generations to come. Most of them in their 
eagerness for cleared land do not consider the future. 
Their own needs are paramount and the work of clear- 
ing the land more worthy their best effort than any- 


30 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


thing else at this time. Possibly it may be true, when 
we consider the time and strenght required to clear even 
one field properly.’^ 

‘‘You are right in regard to the hard labor requir- 
ed and judging from my own experience it will take 
several generations of stalwart men to make farms of 
these western states, such as they should be. Many of 
them will be covered with stumps that will take many 
years to decay and few men will have the courage to 
dig them up.” 

“Well,” said the carpenter; “again my hobby is 
tools to work with. This thing of digging them out with 
a hoe never suited me. I suppose when people have 
more time to think, they will find easier ways to accomp- 
lish such hard work.” 

“I see,” said the other. One of the laws of our be- 
ing is to become attached to whatever costs us the most 
in labor or pain. So many men will love the acres on 
which they have toiled for so many years until, worn out, 
they rest, and their works follow them.” 

“Well,” said the carpenter; “you have spoken of 
the worn out body and the benefit bestowed on others by 
his labor. Will that do him any good when the time 
comes for him to leave it all?” 

“Yes, my friend, that is a serious question, and like 
many others pertaining to our life here, I have never 
found but one that was able to give a satisfactory ans- 
wer. Therefore, I must refer you to the Gospel of St. 
Luke, 12th Chapter, from the 15th to the 23rd verse.” 

“When you pass around that next turn in the road, 
if you look away to the left, far above that knoll and 
above the cliff overlooking the river, you can see what 
was once our home — Blue Belle’s and mine — ^beneath 


THE WOODS ROAD. 


31 


the upper stratum is a cave under those large rocks hid- 
den away from the view of even a close observer. In 
that great room with its walls of solid rock we liked and 
loved, with naught to make us afraid. There our child- 
ren came to us and were cared for through their help- 
less years, and taught to take their first steps under our 
protecting, guiding hands, until they could walk. We 
had the great pleasure of teaching them to talk. Of 
course, the first they can remember was of playing on 
the moss covered rocks, imbedded in the ground, so like 
a soft green carpet under the shade of the trees growing 
farther back from the cliff, their mother's favorite 
play ground in her childhood. 

'^Nearby was the wild grapevine swing, from which 
I first heard the voice and musical laughter of Blue Belle, 
mingled with that of her Indian companions. That was 
many years ago. I was being led a prisoner on the Indian 
trail far below. I can not describe my never to be 
forgotten feeling for the uplift as it came to me, like a 
ray of sunshine." He was lost in thought until near the 
summit of the steep part of the road. 

The oxen left to themselves ceased to move. The 
young carpenter gazed up at the higher hills and walls 
of rock, then far out into the more level country a vast 
wilderness on their right, and could now look down on 
the trees that had towered so far above him when he 
seemed hopelessly lost. 

‘‘Was it last evening I was wandering there so near 
that clearing? Plain enough a spot of civilization when 
viewed from this higher ground." 

Suddenly his companion aroused from his revery. 
Grasping his whip he called out to his team each one by 
name. They soon reached the summit where a brisk 


32 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


breeze fanned their cheeks and the oxen moved down the 
hill at a much faster pace, while he continued his narra- 
tive. 

“One evening after a busy day I sat down beside 
her on a great moss covered rock, overlooking the river. 
She laid aside the little moccasin she was forming and 
listened as I talked of the past. While I spoke of the 
time I have been telling you of, the voices of our child- 
ren enjoying the same free happy time brought it vivid- 
ly before me. Singing, shouting and laughing as she 
and her companions did on that memorable day. 

“Then we talked of our experience from that time 
forward and our remarkable deliverance from the In- 
dians. Intuition must have directed our conversation 
on that last evening we spent together. For years after 
I lived it over and over again. It was a sacred time. The 
silence that followed was suddenly broken when she 
sprang to her feet and cried out ; “Oh ! Look at the Fort.” 

“I turned my gaze as she pointed to Fort Necessity, 
and saw for the first time our United States Flag as it 
waved above the Fort with its stripes of red, white and 
blue and in one corner the thirteen stars representing 
each state. 

“While we sat down and watched the floating ob- 
ject the children joined us. As twilight deepened into 
night and the stars above us came out and gleamed in 
its bright folds, the moon arose, shining over the forest 
and the sparkling waves of the river below. 

“Then amid that quiet scene we heard the sound 
of cannon in the distance. At first, far toward the east, 
growing louder until the response from our own Block 
House resounded through the hills, jarring the earth 
beneath and around us. 


THE WOODS ROAD. 


33 


'‘We had been hearing, even in our isolated home, 
many startling accounts, such as precede the uprising 
of an indignant people from the south and the east, 
reaching westward. We were expecting the signal for 
a call to arms, if repeated, to come at once. What 
wonder that we held our breath. But scarcely had the 
echo of the first died away in the hills until the second 
came with its urgent call for men to gather at the Block 
House. You know what followed when the war for 
freedom began. The trials and privations we had to 
bear through all these years can never be told, or the 
courage of the great hearts who led us on to victory and 
freedom. 

"I had the bravest little woman to leave behind 
me ready and glad to provide and care for our children 
and let me go that we might do our part in contending 
for a country of our own. The children were old 
enough to assist their mother in providing game for 
meat and in utilizing the soil for com and vegetables. 
Neither of us had time to nurse our grief at being sep- 
arated, so I took my gun and hastened away to join my 
comrades in the war. 

"After it was all over I returned and found my 
little wife at our cave home to greet me. She was un- 
changed in her affection or appearance, but the children 
were almost grown, and treated me as if I were a stranger 
for a few days. We were soon united again, the severed 
tied stronger, if possible, than ever. 

"You see when the government land was deeded 
to me I requested to have this in connection with my 
portion as a soldier of the revolution, as I would apprec- 


34 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


iate that hill with its great rocks more than my com- 
rades could. 

'Tf Blue Belle had to stay away as long as I did 
during the war I think I could scarcely be able to keep 
up as well as she did, but she knew how to manage the 
wild beasts and the Indians would never disturb her. 

‘‘While away I visited my own people and was over 
most of the eastern states, as they are called now. My 
experience then rather spoiled me for my backwoods 
life here. I have aspirations for seeing more of what 
is going on in the world. I should like to take at least 
one trip abroad. Then Frank and Isabel ought to have 
a better opportunity for book learning, as the young 
people are having now in some parts of the east.” 

“Well,” said his companion; maybe you can sell 
out and go back east to live.” 

“No, I think Blue Belle would rather stay here, 
now permanent settlements are being established. 
As Ohio is one of the States of the Union and with the 
capital at Columbus, great changes will soon be taking 
place in this part of the country. By working hard and 
holding on to this good land we will have something 
worth while in the years to come.” 

They were coming out of the woods now and the 
light of the moon shining over the clearing and fields, 
the dim light from the oil papered windows of the log 
house in front of the orchard and barn, the barking of 
the watch dog in response to the lowing of the oxen and 
the sound of the wagon, reminded them their trip for the 
first load of lumber would be ended when they had drawn 


THE WOODS ROAD. 


35 


it up near the house to be unloaded, where they expect- 
ed to begin work on the morrow. 

When they turned into the lane they could see Frank 
and Isabel standing in the door, as they had been 
watching for them since dark. 

When Frank came out to care for the oxen he said 
‘‘supper is waiting.'* He had finished the pen before 
dark but the hogs had not come yet and he expected his 
father would have to sound the signal to bring them in. 


CHAPTER VI. 


BLUE BELLE PREPARING TO RETURN HOME. 

W HILE her loved ones are planning everything pos^ 
sible that can add to the comfort or pleasure of her 
arrival, quite another experience is going on in one of 
the ^vigwams of the Miaimis in the far west. 

The earnest women of her band, as she called them, 
had gathered in to see their much loved Muncy — as 
they supposed — ^for the last time, the only one remain- 
ing of their honored Chief Half Moon's family. Few 
there were among them who could not remember some 
acts of kindness she had bestowed on them during the 
long years in which she had sympathized with them in 
time of trouble, comforting and advising as a wise 
mother comforts and advises her children. As she sat 
on the robes with Blue Belle they entered and formed 
circles around them.. With tears and sobs they beck- 
oned to their leader to speak for them. 

Responding she said, ^'We have come to plead 
with you to stay with us. Your father, mother and broth- 
er are all gone, but that makes it harder for us to let 
you go. You have a good wigwam and plenty of horses 
and cattle. Oh! Stay with us." 

While Muncy listened her eyes rested lovingly on 
Blue Belle. Then she arose and replied : 

‘‘Dear women and children I am sorry to leave you. 
I want you to understand that while I love you as my 


PREPARING TO RETURN HOME. 


37 


people, I am bound to this white sister by closer ties. 
She is all that is left to me of our family. We played 
together on the banks and over the hills of our old 
hunting grounds. We shared the same blanket ;every- 
thing father and mother gave us, their children. We 
grew up together and she is as my own sister. As a 
child I loved little Blue Belle with her merry ways. 
When we were older and had more serious thoughts we 
shared them with each other. When a young pale 
face was captured and brought to our village by our 
band, she saw him and pled with father to save his life. 
When I saw how she felt I gave my influence to save 
him, as you know, and he came, in time, to be one of us. 
He taught us the language of his people and was like 
a brother to me. When she told me she cared more 
for him than any body she knew I kept her secret. She 
cared for me much as ever but she loved him in a differ- 
ent way. 

‘‘Father and mother were troubled when they saw 
how her mind and affection were going out after the in- 
teresting young pale face, mostly on my brother's ac- 
count. It spoiled all their plans for him and he was 
becoming desperate. They began plotting a way to get 
rid of her lover and not let her know, so that she would 
think some accident had occured while out on a hunt. 
I told her when we were alone, in our hiding place on 
the hill, and we stored away provision for them in the 
cave and were planning some way to hide him until they 
could escape, for he was more than life to her. Our 
scheme did not work as my brother or some of our band 
were watching him day and night. Our anxiety came to 
an end when the English army came suddenly upon us 
with thousands of artned men. The war whoop was 


38 BLUE BELLE OF THE FOKEST. 

given and soon all was confusion. We were in the 
midst of a great battle. Our warriors took their places 
behind banks and trees, while the Red Coats, with their 
great shining weapons, were in plain view and piles of 
them were soon slain. 

‘‘Right in the beginning of the contest I saw Jehu 
Bailey run for his horse and taking Blue Belle, ride 
swiftly down the Indian trail into the forest. 

“Well, we heard of my brother, Oceola, once. Some 
one reported having seen him at a French Fort. 

“The war continued until the French left and sail- 
ed down the river and were on their way to France. 

“Blue Belle and her lover fled to her favorite Fort 
and were married before her friends were driven away. 
We Indians had to leave our homes and hunting grounds 
and come west as you know. But they found a home in 
the forest and lived there ever since until a few moons 
ago. Blue Belle came to see my mother, and together 
we did all we could for her. Finally she ceased to suffer 
and went to sleep to wake no more here. 

“Now I have told you and you who have sisters 
will surely understand how I feel, that I must go with 
her back to their Forest Home. If it is the will of the 
Great Spirit I will come to you again. Your men have 
given me money for my cattle and the horses, except the 
ones we will take with us. I want to divide the robes we 
have to leave and some other things among you.’' 

“Yes we will take care of them while you are gone, 
when you come again they will be yours.” 

“As you wish dear women. You may know or feel 
more of what the future may have in store for us than I 
do at this time.” Assisted by Blue Belle she spent the 
remainder of the evening giving to each one according 


PREPARING TO RETURN HOME. 


39 


to their needs. Before they left the wigwam they all 
gave vent to their grief by a loud, long wail. Taking up 
the gifts, with bowed heads, silently they went away to 
their own wigwams. Muncy and Blue Belle hastily ar- 
ranging their bed were soon settled down to sleep, hoping 
to rise early and be off before the people in the village 
began to move in the morning. 

When they awoke before the dawn of day, or the 
song of a bird was to be heard, they arose, had a light 
breakfast, packed their saddle bags with the food they 
had been preparing for several days — boiled and dried 
meats, fruit, hominy and parched corn ; everything that 
would be good without having to cook on the way. 

As Blue Belle had noticed on the journey with the 
Missionaries that any places suitable for stopping over 
night were many miles apart, they must make good use 
of daylight if they avoided having to stay on the plains 
or in the great woods alone when night came on. 

‘‘One thing that is encouraging the farther we go the 
better the roads and settlements. It was just the other 
way when we journeyed westward.'' she said to Muncy 
when she came in from feeding the horses. “If your 
Territory had been much farther west we could not have 
undertaken to make the long journey alone." 

“Oh. yes," said Muncy; “we hear so much of terrible 
things going on farther west. It is hard to tell who is 
the more cruel, the Indians or their enemies, the Mex- 
icans. The red men of the Comanchee Tribe are great 
warriors and have but little mercy on travelers who 
fall in their way, especially the ones that are not red, 
as they think they are Mexicans and ought to be killed. 
If we were to fall in their hands, we could never get 
away. I hope we will live to reach your family and the 


40 BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. . 

old hunting ground on the Ohio hills where we played 
so long ago. 

‘Then I know your good man and your children 
will be waiting and watching for us there. The ones 
who call you mother, and I have never seen, must be 
nearly grown up now.” 

“Yes indeed they will, and I must surely get there 
and spend many happy days in my comfortable home. 
To be taken and kept prisoner away from them is not 
to be thought of, for they would never know what had 
become of us. 

“Now,” said Muncy, “the horses must be done eat- 
ing and everything is ready to load them with. We will 
bring them out. I know it would be easier traveling if 
we just had the ponies to ride, but we have so much to 
take, and these pack horses are used to being loaded and 
are so gentle.” 

“Come White Face. Come Star. We are going 
on a long journey.” They led them close to the door 
of the wigwam where they could fill the large wallets 
after putting them on their backs. 

Just then a robin above their heads began his morn- 
ing song, and Muncy exclaimed. “Oh! There is my 
bird. He sings up there every morning just at this time.” 
All the time they tucked the things in the bags, hanging 
low on the horses sides, and secured them with ropes 
and straps. The robin sang just as gaily as it would if 
she were just waking from her night's sleep and not go- 
ing away. 

“Now you can see him in that branch of the tree 
that reaches out over the wigwam. No wonder his 
notes always sounded so near. Do you think he will 




“Goodbye, little robin red breast. 


PREPARING TO RETURN HOME. 


41 


stay here when there is no one to be wakened early, or 
at all, when all the family are gone?” 

‘T am sure I can not tell. You do think of such 
odd things, Muncy.” 

‘^Good-bye little robin red breast,” she called; as 
they started down the path toward the forest. 

The only reply was a fresh outburst of song. ‘‘Be 
cheery, be cheery.” As the sound grew fainter Muncy's 
chin dropped lower and she seemed lost in thought. 

“Are you sorry to leave the new hunting ground?” 

“Oh no. Father and mother are both gone and you 
feel nearer to me than any one here, unless Lightfoot 
should return.” 

“Yes, I would like to know what did become of 
him,” said Blue Belle. 

“Well they disappeared, he and his father, many 
years ago and none of our tribe could find any trace of 
them, so gave them up. I can not forget. It has been 
lonesome ever since. They will surely never come back 
now, and I will feel better to go back to Ohio with you. 
We can go over the places I loved in our girlhood days. 
Up and down the streams where we waded and played 
among the pebbles. I want to see that great deep 
gorge and the cave we found where we used to hide, 
and kept our own secret when they tried to find where 
we had been. We often sat up there in the rocks listen- 
ing to the strange sounds of waterfalls below. Peering 
away down into the dark caverns we thought we listen- 
ed to sounds of people talking. Surely odd persons 
they must be to stay away down in that mysterious under- 
world.” 

“Yes,” said Blue Belle, “our old play ground is much 
the same and I am so happy we are on our way home. 


42 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


Of course, you have lived here for many years and we 
will become attached to the country where we live. I 
have spent the most of my life in the forest among the 
Ohio hills. This is a beautiful country, and maybe we 
can come here again sometime if you wish.'' 

‘'No, dear Blue Belle, it is a long way to travel. 
All your interest is there where we may spend the rest of 
our days. I think I shall be satisfied to never return un- 
less you wish to come on your own account.'' 


CHAPTER, VII. 


BLUE BELLE ON HER WAY HOME. 

(( OU have no idea how much I missed you, but I 



1 have had the satisfaction of being useful to my peo- 
ple. Have always been so glad I had the opportunity 
to learn the English language. I have been teaching 
the boys and girls, but the best part was being able to 
talk with the Missionaries who came to visit us, and to be 
able to serve as interpreter for them when they came 
so far with no other object than to be our friends and 
bring messages of love from the Great Spirit. I know 
from what they have done for us that they love us. 
They leave their home away back in the east every year. 
They always have good horses but it is a long journey 
over the mountains and across the states to our Terri- 
tory. They come with no selfish motive, only from a 
sense of duty, and to keep their appointment with the 
Meeting of Friends who send them on their mission, with 
their prayers and concern for their safe return following 
them. They visit several tribes. Among these are the 
Winebagos, Omahas, Pawnees and some others. 

‘They tell us we all have our Great Father who loves 
us, that we are all brothers and sisters and ought to 
live together in harmony, as God is kind and provides 
good things for us all. 

“How I did like to hear them talk. Then as I re- 
peated it to the ones who could not understand what they 


44 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


said, it caused me to remember more than would have 
been possible any other way. When we get with your 
family and can talk that way all the time I will enjoy it 
so much. It will remind us of the times when your lover 
was teaching us both to talk as he did.’’ 

“Yes, indeed,’’ said Blue Belle, “I love to think of 
the good old times. When we all get together he will 
like to hear us talk of them, too, and will remember some 
things we have forgotten.” / 

“Well we are coming in sight of the plains now, 
It will be more comfortable riding as it is nice and smooth 
and we can travel side by side. When these paths are 
used a long time they get worn so deep, new ones have 
to be made through the tall tangled grass, as the water 
washes the old ones in times of big rains.” 

“I had not thought of that,” said Blue Belle; “I 
see they make the new one near enough to lead a horse 
along the other. Several of them make a trail as far 
as we can see,” she continued, laughing, “and I am glad 
they are already made.” 

“Yes,” said Muncy, “the young braves always like 
something difficult to accomplish. Of course, we are 
willing they should do this. I wish you could see them 
racing their ponies across the prairie, their heads de- 
corated with bright colored feathers fluttering above the 
green waving grass as they go bounding forth over miles 
and miles of this open country, how many I can not say, 
before we lose sight of them. Yet these boys are not 
trained to minister to others. Their first recollection had 
been of seeing their fathers kill game and let it lay, 
pointing out the direction to their mothers, who were ex- 
perts in finding and dressing it ready for use. When 
out on a hunt, in times of breaking camp to move farther 


ON THE WAY HOME. 


45 


on where game is more plentiful, the women carry their 
tents while the men go untrammeled that they may be 
ready to use their bows and arrows on a moments notice. 
He is taught to protect his tribe and kill the game. 

*Tt is not necessary for me to tell you these things 
as you grew up with us, but you have been with the white 
people so long I had almost forgotten you had been one 
of us. I remember how different your lover was from 
our men. He was always ready to lift and carry the 
heaviest loads and give us his hand when we had a rock 
to mount, or foot logs to cross over creeks, or deep gorges 
between the hills. I have been trying to get the boys in 
our band to be more like he was. The women and girls 
are not like the ones he had been brought up with. They 
are as stout as their brothers and never expect them to 
do what they are able to do themselves.” 

**Oh yes,” said Blue Belle, ‘The training makes such 
a difference. You see when he was with your people 
he sat with us around the fire when it was cold. Our 
best seats were robes and our wigwams seldom clear of 
smoke, because it had no place to escape through the 
roof. After we were married, though we have always 
lived in the forest, he knew how to make our home com- 
fortable, and felt free to do his best with the few things 
he had to work with. We never strapped our babies 
on a board, for he made a nice little bed, or cradle he 
called it, out of a log, leaving the under side smooth and 
round. The upper side was hewed out like a box so they 
could not roll out. We lined it with bear skin and I 
gathered the softest leaves and ferns for the little bed; 
then I found enough of that pretty cotton for a pillow. 
You know the kind we used to play with when we were 
children.” 


46 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


'‘Yes,” said Muncy, 'T always admired it so much, 
when the big green pods were opened to let the white 
fluffy cotton come out.” 

"Well, you must know I thought about that and wish- 
ed you were with me to hold the little skin case so I 
could get the unruly stuff in, for it took lots of it for one 
little pillow, but it was so nice when it was made, just 
right for the wee baby. When the weather was cold we 
had the same kind of warm soft skins your father had 
for our little bed. Then we both sat and watched him 
as he cuddled down in them, and gave us his sweetest 
smiles while we moved his cradle gently until he was 
asleep. We felt nearer to the kingdom, and to each 
other, as we sat there and gazed on our innocent babe. 
My husband said; "Can we realize that we have before 
us God's best and richest gift and entrusted to our care? 
So much depends on our being able to keep the little body 
perfect as He has created it ; bone of our bone and flesh 
of our flesh.” 

"Yes,” said Muncy, "and you were successful in 
getting them through their babyhood without the use of 
a board to protect the delicate, wonderful organism, 
which if injured, undoes for life God's perfect workman- 
ship, the physical body.” 

"Well, of course, we know the reason for your peo- 
ple strapping their papooses to a board. Jehu said it 
would be impossible to care for them through infancy 
any other way. With the Indian habits and out door 
life the little ones have to rough it with the grown ups. 
To tell the truth I am glad my home life is different from 
what it could have been with the red people. I have 
no wish to go back to the old time habits. 


ON THE WAY HOME. 


47 


*‘Say Muncy don’t you think we had best look out 
for a place to stop and feed the horses and have our 
dinner?” 

“Yes to be sure and I think we can get to Logan 
Creek by noon, that is such a beautiful place. The shade 
will be so pleasant after traveling so far on the prairie.” 

Blue Belle dropping her rein let her pony halt while 
she gazed over the great expanse of country around them. 
“My!” said she, “What a beautiful country. This must 
be the garden of the world. I scarcely believe you will 
be satisfied back there in the hills after living in a place 
like this so many years.” 

“Yes,” said Muncy, “we all enjoy this part of the 
west very much, especially during the hunting season 
when we camped on the banks of the creek or river, 
where the cottonwood trees make such fine shade.” 

“Look! Muncy, what is that?” said Blue Belle, 
pointing to their left across the prairie. They had seen 
a drove of buffalo far away on their right. Had passed 
a mound occupied by little dogs, and stopped to water 
their horses at a spring where several little animals 
scampered away in the grass as they approached. 
Otherwise the plains had appeared clear of everything 
but the green waving grass, 

Now they could see a string of bright plumage mov- 
ing swiftly eastward where they expected to reach the 
creek in a short time themselves. She gazed for a time 
in silent wonder, then turned to her red sister for an ans- 
wer. 

“It is Indians,” she said, riding swiftly on the south 
trail. “They will be camping on the bank of the creek 
by the time we reach there. Of course, we will come in 
farther up and may not be disturbed, but those feathers 


48 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


look too much like savages out on the war path. There 
are some tribes not far from here I should fear, as we 
are alone, if they got their eyes on us, would take us 
prisoners and get what we have.” 

‘‘Oh dear, that would be dreadful,’’ said Blue Belle, 
as the color left her face. “Do you suppose they saw 
us and will waylay us? Muncy, Muncy, what shall we 
do? If we turned back they could overtake us on the 
plains.” 

But Muncy who had been leaning forward with up- 
turned face silently watching the moving string of rid- 
ers now turned to her white sister with a smile of relief 
on her habitually grave face. 

“Do not be alarmed. I see something familiar in 
the motion of that set. I have seen them before while 
rigged out in feathers. I believe them to be our own 
boys. We can go on without fear now I am sure. See 
we are near enough to the creek to see the beautiful 
trees that cover its banks.” 

“I am glad of that, for since my scare is over I find 
l am hungry,” said Blue Belle. “Exercise in such air as 
this makes one long for something good and fresh, like 
boiled turkey or venison, but I guess anything we have 
will taste good.” 

While they talked and urged their ponies forward 
they entered and passed over the Valley of Logan Creek, 
enjoying the refreshing breeze, under the shade of the 
great trees down to the sparkling water. The ponies of 
their own accord quickened their pace to a run over the 
bank to the edge of the creek, where the riders drew 
rein and sprang to the ground, releasing the thirsty ani- 


ON THE WAY HOME. 


49 


mals that they might enjoy the water flowing at their 
feet. 

As they stood stroking them with leaves plucked 
from the branches of the trees, they suddenly became 
aware that a camp-fire was burning farther down the 
creek, as they could see the smoke rising above the 
trees. 

‘‘What do you think of that, Muncy? No one lives 
near here does there?*' 

“No, it must be travelers or hunters who have come 
in on the south trail. We”ll not have to start a fire. We 
had best make haste and get our horses fed, and have 
our lunch as soon as possible so we can be going on our 
way.” 

But before they could relieve their horses of their 
burdens ready to rub the sweat from their bodies, that 
they might get rested sooner, without taking cold with 
the sudden change from their exercise on the open plain 
to the dense shade of the trees, through which the cool 
breezes were passing, merry shouts fell on their ears. 
Looking in the direction from which they came a number 
of boys were seen coming up the creek running as they 
shouted. When near enough to be heard they called 
out, “Aunt Muncy did you think you could slip away 
like that, after all your kindness to us?” Others were 
saying, “We thought we would find you here at the end 
of this trail. Want you come and eat dinner with us. 
No mustn't object. It not far, all ready too. We take 
care of horses, leave them here. You go? 

“Yes,” said Muncy, “since you have gone to all 
this trouble and it is not far, we will not refuse your 
warm dinner.” 


50 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


‘'Well, you not wait. We tend horses so they eat 
grass, not get loose. We overtake you,’’ said the leader. 

They had not gone far when they heard the voices 
of the other boys and saw them moving around the fire 
near a log, which had the bark pealed off, making a nice 
seat, 

“My! did you ever smell any thing as good as that 
turkey?” said Blue Belle. “See they are broiling them at 
the fire on the sticks. What a fine bed of coals they 
have.” The young cooks with faces flushed with heat 
turned to greet them as they came near. 

“Well, you boys have sure enough prepared a sur- 
prise dinner,” said Muncy. 

“Our Mamies helped us with the cakes and things, 
for you see we just had to do something when we heard 
you were going away. We held a counsel last night 
and we decided to have dinner for you. We stayed up 
late getting ready. We knew where we could find the 
turkeys as we had been watching and followed them to 
their roosting place several days ago. All we had to do 
was to get out there early in the morning with our bows 
and arrows and bring down as many as we wanted.” 

“Now,” said their leader, “these dodgers, potatoes 
and roasting ears are all done brown. You can take 
them out boys for the turkey is ready.” 

Blue Belle who was watching them brush away the 
live coals, and take off the wrapping of leaves as they 
placed the corn on the bark platters and raked the pota- 
toes out and placed them on others, said, “What nice 
potatoes you have and everything looks as good as it 
smells.” 


ON THE WAY HOME. 


51 


**We made these out of the bark we took off the 
trees and we have smaller ones for you and Aunt Muncy 
to have on your laps.” 

They had the logs placed just far enough apart to 
enable them to reach the dinner when the platters were 
placed on the leaves between them. When the boys 
who had been caring for the horses came and all were 
seated on the logs they bowed their heads for the silent 
thanks the Father Onas Man had requested them to 
observe. 

They had given the guests all the plates they had 
time to make so they helped themselves, feeling they 
had been greatly honored, while they praised the 
young men and boys for being so kind and thoughtful in 
preparing such a great feast for them. 

‘"These potatoes are good enough for the President, 
or maybe you would say the Chief or Medicine man. I 
never tasted better turkey.” 

“We will remember this dinner as long as we live,” 
said Muncy, “and when we think of it we will think of 
you.” 

“Well,” said the leader, “we all enjoyed having some 
part in getting it up. Our little brothers and sisters, 
who could not come, cracked the nuts and picked out the 
kernels and parched this corn. They said they wanted 
you to take these on your journey. The girls sent these 
boxes and baskets they had made themselves. I think 
you will find some of their names worked in some of them. 
These are their presents.” 

By this time Muncy's feelings were fast overcom- 
ing her, for these boys she had been teaching all these 
years to show their gratitude in this way was comfort- 
ing to her lonely heart. The message and the presents 


52 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


from the dear girls and children she was leaving, then 
all the bright papooses she had nursed and loved had a 
place in her affectionate nature. She was moved to tears 
which coursed down her cheeks for some moments, tears 
she could not stay. Then suddenly she straightened up, 
a look of resolution on her thoughtful face. She had 
overcome the tender feeling and was her genial self again. 
Her great dark eyes glowed as she talked to her young 
friends, giving these young brothers of her tribe just the 
mental food for which they longed, her plain coarse 
featured face becoming radiant with the joy of the inner 
life which she possessed and was able to impart to these 
who felt nearer than she had before realized. The meal 
over, and the spiritual food received, all arose and gath- 
ered around the fire for a few parting words. 

Surely they were a fine set of young men and boys ; 
tall and straight with bright eyes, Roman noses and 
firmly set lips. Their intelligent brown faces marked 
them as one of the best tribes of a race of people who 
always remembered a kindness and in their own strength 
could never forgive an injury. They were taught to suf- 
fer but could never be made to endure servitude or be- 
tray a friend, for whom they were willing to give their 
lives if required. 

‘‘Who will be interpreter when you are gone, and 
Father Onas^ people come to visit us as they do every 
year?’" 

“Why some of you can I feel sure. You must have 
your own experience and you can get that better when 
you have no one to rely on. Yet I must say what I now 
feel in my soul. I will come back to you some day, if 
it is God’s will that I should.” 


ON THE WAY HOME. 


53 


At this expression of feeling from the revered 
Muncy, a shout of joy went up from all the boys and 
they danced around the two sisters who now stood wait- 
ing until the young athletes had given vent to their 
feeling by lasting cheers. 

*‘Oh, my sister,’’ said Blue Belle,, holding Muncy’s 
hands in her own with tightening grasp, ‘'you will go home 
with me but the forest hills in Ohio can not hold you long 
after all this demonstration. Your people can not let 
you go away to stay.” 

“But you must remember,” replied Muncy, “you have 
a family and I am sure I will be with you for a time, to 
live over again, in a measure, the joys of our childhood. 
But see. Sunbeam is getting the boys quiet and we must 
be going now.” 

The boys hurridly gathered up what remained of 
the dinner, and placed the best of the turkey and cakes 
with the trinkets brought for the travelers. However, 
one of the younger set had something on his mind but 
was too much embarrassed, or at least they would not 
understand him, his English was so broken. Maybe he 
was thinking the boys would make fun of him. When 
Muncy took him to one side and encouraged him to tell 
her he did so in his own way. He told her he was 
thinking about Blue Belle. That she was not like their 
women, who were all coarse-featured and dark like the 
men, yet the Indian braves all admired pretty white wo- 
men, and if any of them saw Blue Belle they would cap- 
ture them and their horses to get her. He knew she 
would rather go back to her own man and papooses than 
to be a queen in any of the Indian tribes. 

When she asked him what he thought they could 
do to avert the danger, he told her what had best be done. 


54 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


That was to paint and put feathers on her just like they 
do an Indian Queen, so no one would be attracted by her 
beauty. Then he thought they would be safe like two 
Indians traveling eastward. She told him she thought 
they were taking a great risk going alone. Blue Belle 
who overheard most of what they said, and could under- 
stand better than he knew, joined them and urged with 
Muncy that she had best be painted and put on the Indian 
garb. She praised the boy for his thoughtfulness which 
comforted him much as he thought it might offend her to 
say anything about the matter. Then she smiled and 
sat down on the log asking them in their own language 
to decorate her as they would if she were their own queen. 
The boy on whom the concern had rested produced the 
paint he had carried with him. They took feathers from 
their own caps for hers. With charcoal and white of an 
egg her golden tresses were changed in color but could 
not be made straight. 

‘‘Well, she will look like Indian when she have cap 

on.” 

“Yes,” said Blue Belle, “I will wear that all the time 
when riding.” 

When the painting was finished, her cap placed on 
her head and a red blanket over her shoulders, they 
all declared they never would have known it was Blue 
Belle. Even her eyes looked changed, and her white 
teeth more like pearls than they had before the face 
and hair were changed in color. 

When they were all satisfied that she would pass 
for an Indian, they started up the creek taking the things 
they had brought with them, with plenty of turkey, 
nut kernels and everything they could get them to take. 


ON THE WAY HOME. 


55 


When they were ready to go on their way the boys 
who had crossed the creek with them stood looking sad. 
The young Chief said they would like to go farther with 
them, see them cross big waters — ^the Mississippi 
River — ^but they told them they would have to go a long 
way before they reached that. They would find a way 
to cross that would be safe as many white settlers lived 
and had big boats at the place. With all the encourag- 
ing words that could be thought of they bade them adieu 
and went on their way alone. 

When they had gone quite a distance, each one 
busy with her own thoughts they reached the higher 
ground and looking back could see the boys still standing 
on the bank of the creek. 

Muncy said, ‘'They will watch us until we are out 
of sight then they will go back to the camp and linger 
there till evening, fishing and playing in the water; then 
eat their supper before going back to the village. When 
they all gather around the camp fires to-night they will 
have much to tell their mothers, sisters and little brothers. 
They will dwell on the fact of our thinking they were 
savage Indians when we saw them speeding across the 
plains on the south trail. 

Yes, I can just hear them jabbering away in their 
own tongue. What one of them don't think of another 
will, and the papooses strapped to their boards on the 
bank, or leaning against the huts, will kick and laugh 
as if they understood it all." 

“Well," said Blue Belle, “when they are back 
among their own people and have their usual sports, 
young folks like them soon forget their disappointments. 
New things are coming up every day to attract them. 
While we are holding in our minds just how we left 


56 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


them, they are enjoying the present and are so much 
more free from care than we are now so far from our 
home/’ 

''Well,” said Muncy, "our horses had such a good 
rest in the middle of the day they will be able to travel 
late, but I hope we will find shelter before night, as we 
would have to make a fire and stay up on account of the 
wolves.” 

"Yes the great woods we will be going through 
seemed to have very few settlements,” said Blue Belle. 

Urging their ponies to a faster gait they sped along 
in silence for several hours, passing great herds of buffa- 
lo and other wild animals grazing on the plains. Their 
horses growing weary at last they had to let them rest, 
though as yet no shade was in sight and the sun was 
getting low in the west. Soon they urged them forward 
again for a time and the great rolling plains would soon 
be left behind them. 

"Oh this beautiful country ! I will surly never forget 
this sight. I dread to enter the great woods and follow 
the single trail again,” said Blue Belle. 

"Don’t be discouraged,” said Muncy. If you could 
see how you look maybe you would not be afraid. I 
will lead and maybe we will come to a habitation ere long. 
Entering the shade of the great forest, daylight faded 
faster than they perceived. In the cool of the evening 
as twilight came on, their horses sped forward with re- 
newed energy, and as the shadows thickened among 
the tall trees of the great woods. Blue Belle strained her 
eyes to keep sight of her leader, speeding on and on. 

At length she cried out. "Oh, stop! For pity’s 
sake stop, stop!” She had already heard the weird 
but well known howl of a grey wolf in the distance, far 


ON THE WAY HOME. 


57 


to the left, with the fearful answer of another on the 
right. 

Muncy is going faster now and without checking 
her horses for a moment calls back to her to make the 
horses do their best. It is a race for life with us 
now. Urging them forward she took new cour- 
age, for a few moments as their speed increased. 
Suddenly her pony reared as the pack horse leaped 
against them. Looking back she saw a great shaggy 
creature clinging to his side. She raised her pistol and 
fired when it fell to the ground. They sped on but others 
were closing in upon them. She quickly threw out the 
turkey and other things the boys had added to their pro- 
vision and gained a little space while they fought over it. 

They had no need of whip or spur as the horses 
darted forward with a full sense of the danger. Faster 
and faster but with every bound the hideous cry of the 
wild beasts sounded closer. The crisis had come. 

Blue Belle saw no way to escape, brave as she was. 
It was evident a pack of hungry wolves were now aroused. 
The great woods resounded with their dismal howls. 
In a short time they would be devoured, leaving no trace 
for their friends to know what had become of them. But 
she would follow Muncy as long as she could, in her 
flight, as she never halted for a moment. She had seen 
a light in the distance before them and hoped they could 
reach it in time to be saved. In answer to Blue Belle's 
cry of despair she called to her. “See the light? Look 
ahead! See that light? It is not far from us now." 


CHAPTER VIII. 


THE ADVENT OF A STRANGER AT FOREST HOME. 

T he busy weeks have passed quickly, and the inmates 
of Forest Home are counting the days when the 
travelers may arrive. 

“I think Mammy will scarcely know the place when 
she gets here,'' said Isabel to her father, who was finish- 
ing the small front gate which would complete the en- 
closing of the yard. A few days before she had watched 
the young carpenter depart on his journey westward, 
after completing the building of their new home as they 
had planned. It was now furnished as nearly as she 
and her father and brother could do anything of such 
importance. They all agreed that the finishing touches 
would have to be done by mother. 

‘‘She will find everything in the old house just about 
as she left them, for we have changed nothing but the 
windows. I can not realize how we did get along with 
the paper ones. I am so glad to have the glass, for I 
can wash them clean and then rub them until they shine. 
Everything looks so cheerful when the sunshine comes 
into the rooms. I am so delighted with the new rooms 
and the pretty carpets and curtains. Oh, Daddy, I can 
hardly believe myself, that it is our home." 

As she tripped down the path and sat down on one 
of the seats in the portico she closed her eyes and thought 
‘‘Oh! How I wish Mammy was here. Nothing makes 


A STRANGER AT FOREST HOME. 


59 


home without her. I think this lonely feeling would 
go away if they were here. 

‘‘Well that is finished,’’ said her father; gathering 
up the tools and coming to the house. will be ready 
to help Frank with the apples now.” 

''No you must rest awhile. He is getting along 
fine. Said they would soon all be picked and he would 
be ready to dig potatoes to-morrow. I will put these 
away for you. I suppose the carpenter work is finished,” 
she said with a little sigh. 

Her father replied, "I believe you enjoy having the 
work going on better than seeing it finished.” 

"Oh, no. This would be a dull world if we had no 
work to do. Look! Daddy, somebody is coming down 
our lane from the road. My, but he has a fine horse and 
rig.” The Sttranger was coming closer now. "He is 
not a young man, but real nice looking.” 

"Yes,” said her father, "I believe I saw that very 
man on the street when we were in Pittsburg. But I 
am puzzled to know what brings him here,” and he 
hastened out to meet him. 

"Good day sir. I wish to inquire if this is where 
Jehu Bailey lives,” said the stranger, lifting his hat and 
bowing to Isabel’s father. Seeing her he alighted quick- 
ly, as her father answered in the affirmative. Secur- 
ing his horse he entered the yard and came toward the 
house to meet her, his face lighting up after the manner 
of one who recognizes a long absent friend or relative. 

"Is this your daughter,?” with trembling voice he 
questioned. Every particle of color had left his face, 
his slender form swayed backward and he would have 
fallen had it not been for strong arms thrown out to 
support him. Together father and daughter brought 


60 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


him into the house. When they had placed him in one 
of the large comfortable chairs, his now helpless head 
resting on a pillow, Jehu sent Isabel for water, telling 
her not to be frightened. She had never been where 
any one had fainted before. Water sprinkled on his 
face failed to revive the unconscious man. 

'Tell your brother to come at once.'' 

When he came and the spare bed was ready, lifting 
him carefully in their arms they carried him in and plac- 
ed him upon it with the pillows laid aside that his head 
might be low. When his gaiters were removed, his 
cravat taken off and collar loosened and one on each 
side had chafed his limbs, with no sign of life, the father 
began to be alarmed. 

“This is no ordinary fainting fit. His heart beats, 
otherwise I can see no sign of life. Something we do 
not understand has given him a terrible shock. If only 
old Dr. Green were here, he would open a vein and start 
up the circulation. But our fastest horse could not get 
him here from Columbus before morning, if we found 
him at home and able to come. I wish I had purchased 
a lance and could use it. He can not survive long unless 
we can do something ourselves. His heart begins to 
fail already. We must make use of our best knowledge 
to save him. Frank, start a fire in the living room and 
bring in a basket full of new corn. We"ll get the kettle 
on and have the water hot when you get it here. We 
must lose no time or it will be too late. We will get him 
into a hot pack as soon as possible. I will lift his head 
while you place the pillows, so it may be even with the 
body. Isabel, now you can get the blankets and sheet, 
or a soft light quilt might be better, while I get the big 
kettle on the fire and bring in a tub and stir up the fire." 


A STRANGER AT FOREST HOME. 


61 


The water was steaming hot when Frank came with 
the corn. He said, “When I get half of it dipped into 
the tub you can put it in the kettle and push the fire to- 
gether.” 

“Put blankets here where they will get warm and 
give me the sheet and quilt, Isabel ; then you can start 
a fire in the kitchen and have boiling water in the tea- 
kettle, as it may be necessary to have something warm 
for him to drink. You understand we will call you as 
soon as you can assist in any way.” 

She soon had a fire and the teakettle humming in 
the way she loved to hear. She was not listening to that 
now her thoughts were of the mysterious stranger. Who 
was he and what brought him here, or caused the shock 
her father spoke of? Thought was soon changed to 
action as her father was calling her now. Hastening to 
the guest's room she found the still unconscious man 
swathed in blankets enclosing the ears of steaming hot 
com. 

Going closer she placed her cool soft hand on his 
forehead, smoothing back the locks of fine hair that now 
lay in dampened ringlets on his intellectual brow; then 
resting it there and looking at her father, she said ; “did 
you ever see a sadder, sweeter face?” 

As if it were the sound of her voice, or the touch of 
her hand, the silken lashes over his eyes began to move, 
then opened to gaze at the girl, his lips unclosed and 
he murmured. “Oh, Isabel, is it indeed you? How I 
have longed and longed to see your face again. And 
our little girl, did you know I have been searching for 
her these long years and never could get any trace of 
her. Can you tell me where she is now?” His voice 
was failing and his eyes closed as if with sleep. 


62 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


‘Tsabel, dear, he must be kept quiet, said her fa- 
ther in a whisper. ‘'Life has returned but his mind is 
wandering. How glad I am to see him breathe again. 
If he sleeps he will be all right, as that is natures great 
restorer.^’ While he imparted this to the children he 
had quietly left the room, Frank and Isabel following. 

“If you have boiling water you can prepare some 
Jamaica ginger, not too strong, and if he stirs again, we 
will give him a little with a teaspoon. Put plenty of 
cream and sugar in it. Frank you must help me get him 
out of the sweat gradually that he may not be chilled. 
You can rub his feet gently, while I remove the com and 
get dry things around him. We must have the dry 
blanket heated and a hot brick to his feet. I hope we 
can get everything damp away without disturbing him.” 

When he was sleeping quietly they all went into 
the other room and sat down to rest. Isabel and her 
brother eager to have their father's opinion of the strange 
visitor. 

“You may be surprised when I tell you he may be 
a very near relative of yours,” said he. “He is a French- 
man of the finer type. You know your mother was 
taken from some settler's home when she was too young 
to know all of her own name. I have noticed all the 
years I have known her that she was interested in the 
French people. She told the Indians her name was 
Belle, and they gave her the name of Blue Belle, because 
her eyes were the color of the flower. Her right name 
might have been Isabel, as well as her mother's. Nothing 
short of a real likeness to some one he loved could have 
given him the shock he received when he looked in your 
face the first time. Then again, when the hot pack was 
reviving him, and you came to his bedside your voice 


A STRANGER AT FOREST HOME. 


63 


and touch aroused him. When he opened his eyes and 
saw you, the impression it made on him with what he 
said, confirmed my thoughts, that he was your mothers 
father, and that you resembled your grand-mother, his 
young wife wham he had loved and lost many years ago. 
If he recovers, it is my belief, we will learn more in con- 
nection with your mother's people than we have ever 
known." 

'‘Do you think he will get well now, father?" 

"Yes he is resting so quietly we have reason to be- 
lieve the crisis is past, though such shocks are sometimes 
followed by a low fever with weeks of delirium. Nature 
has to struggle so long before the delicate organism in- 
volved can be restored. I hope our getting him relieved 
so soon will result favorably and that he will soon re- 
cover." 

"I hope he will," said Frank, "and be able to be 
around when mother gets home. Belle thought we had 
a great surprise in waiting for her, but just think of this, 
if we have her father whom she has never heard of 
since she was a little child." 

"Well, it is great. I hope it will not shock her," said 
Belle. "We just have to wait until she comes, for we 
have no way to send her word." 

"No you need have no fear for your mother, child- 
ren. It will be a great joy for her to find she has a father 
living. She was too young to remember her loss, while 
his would be felt by him all these years, making him 
unable to bear anything sudden. He has suffered many 
bitter disappointments in his search for her, looking 
for his child among the many tribes of Indians, while 
we have lived here in the forest contented and happy; 
the last place he was likely to look for her after the 


64 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


Indians were all driven west from the Ohio Valley. He 
would never think of her getting away from the Indians, 
unless he could find her, and she might not be willing 
to leave them if he should. 

'‘Well, Frank, we had better finish the apple pick- 
ing while the weather is good. Belle can call me if he 
gets awake, but I think he will sleep until night, if not 
longer.^’ 

As it was not time to get supper, which would be 
simple, and was already planned, Isabel got out her 
work basket and was soon quietly seated on the new 
sewing chair by the west window of the room occupied 
by their invalid guest. She was soon engaged with the 
attractive work, making tulips by sewing the bright 
colored pieces of red and yellow to foi^ the flowers on 
large ones cut in squares of muslin, bleached white, for 
the purpose. She had been working for sometime and 
hastened to complete a flower as the sun would soon be 
down. She was closely absorbed putting in the cot- 
ton with a little smooth stick, and noting the effect as 
the flower stems and leaves took on a natural appear- 
ance. This part of the work was so interesting that she 
ceased glancing toward the bed, as she was becoming ac- 
customed to the quiet regular breathing of the sleeper, 
until a slight clearing of his throat caused her to look 
up and see that he was awake and gazing earnestly at 
her. Laying her work aside she hastened to his bed- 
side. 

'is your name Isabel, and what is your age?” he 
questioned. 

"Yes, that is my name,” said she. "I will soon be 
seventeen years old.” 

"I have been thinking since I awoke and found my- 


A STRANGER AT FOREST HOME. 


65 


self in this comfortable bed. The first question was, 
‘Where am I, and how did I get here?* Then I saw you 
sitting by the window and the last I could remember 
was seeing you standing in a new portico. At sight of 
your face the past came back to me with such force, 
my head swam and everything grew dark. I must have 
been sleeping after that for I saw you in a dream or vi- 
sion again. I know I am awake now. When I saw 
you sitting there, the last rays of the setting sun resting 
on your dark, bright wavy locks and the fair brow, it 
was the same I saw in my dream. I would think you 
were my long lost child, my dear little Belle, but if she 
is living she will be forty years of age next October and 
her eyes were a lovely blue when she was three years 
old. Yours are dark gray, or brown. I see in your 
face the likeness of my much loved young wife whom 
the cruel Indians killed. Where is our daughter I have 
sought for so long and hoped to find in this forest home, 
as I believed the Friend Missionary had put me on the 
right track at last. I feel that you must be my near 
kindred. Maybe her daughter.** 

The tears that had been trembling on the girls long 
eye lashes now dropped on his out-stretched hands, 
while she took them in both her own and kneeling down 
pressed them to her lips; then in a choking voice she 
replied, “Yes, oh yes, I believe you are my own dear 
grand-father.** 

A little later her father and brother coming in found 
Isabel with her head resting on the strangers breast, 
while he fondly stroked her soft brown locks. They 
stood for a few moments gazing on the interesting sight, 
then came forward to claim their own kinship with him. 

Seeing his blue eyes he exclaimed, as the young 


66 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


man approached the bed. *T believe you are my own 
grand-son.^' While tears of joy coursed down his fur- 
rowed cheeks as he held his hands in his while trying to 
realize the truth of his own words. Looking up at the 
face of his sympathizing son-in-law he exclaimed, *Tt 
was you who supported me when I was sinking into the 
darkness, but where is she? Where is my daughter, 
is she still alive? I can bear to hear the worst now from 
you. I feel sure these are her children and you their 
father, a white man and her husband. She is as near 
to you as she is to me.” 

As soon as Jehu could speak he told him his child 
was surely alive and well. That they were expecting 
her home from a long journey she had taken to the In- 
dian Territory, to see the people with whom she had lived 
since childhood, where he had found her while a captive 
with the Indians himself. Adding, ‘‘It will be a com- 
fort to you to find the woman your little Belle became, 
if she did grow up with the Indians. She is a lovely 
woman, but the riches of her mind are better than any 
outward appearances. The kind tender sympathy man- 
ifest in every word and act have been my greatest bless- 
ing all the years we have spent together.” 

“Well, I am rejoiced to know — if it is indeed she — 
that the precious child has become what her mother so 
much desired, a kind loving woman, and I am so glad 
she has a companion who can appreciate these good 
qualities. I can not express my gratitude to you as the 
rescuer of my daughter.” 

“Never mind, my dear sir, as I assure you I have 
been well paid for any part I may have had in the res- 
cue,” said Jehu, smiling. I think your mind must be re- 
lieved and you had better not talk any more to-night. 


A STRANGER AT FOREST HOME. 


67 


You have been very ill. If you are thirsty I will bring 
you a drink and we will bring your supper later. I 
hope you can be with us to-morrow.” 

When Isabel brought in his toast and milk she found 
him sleeping and quietly withdrew, after arranging it 
on the stand where he could reach it if he should get 
awake. 

*‘He will need no light as the moon will shine into 
his room all night and father will be near enough to care 
for him.” 

When the evening work was all done he was still 
sleeping and they quietly retired for the night. 

The next morning when he awoke he arose and 
dressed carefully, finding his baggage all placed in con- 
venient order in his room. When about ready to join 
the new family of kin folks he could now hear moving 
around in the house, he felt a sense of physical weakness. 
Putting aside the curtain he raised the window higher 
and stood there enjoying the crisp October morning, un- 
til a knock came on his door and in response to his call 
to "'come in” his genial host appeared with a cane in his 
hand. 

“Why you are up already? Don't be discouraged 
if you are a little weak this morning. You are doing fine 
to be able to be up this soon. I thought yesterday you 
were not likely to survive from your sudden collapse. 
We did our best to bring you back to life, and I am glad 
indeed to find you up ; and as the saying goes, 'Clothed 
and in your right mind' after yesterday's experience. I 
brought in this cane hoping you might feel like joining 
us at breakfast.” 

“Thank you. I am very glad to be able to do so,” said 


68 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


the stranger, as he followed Jehu to the kitchen and met 
Frank and Isabel with their pleasant greeting. 

When they had taken their places around the table 
the great soul of their guest overflowed in thanksgiving 
that was both edifying and cementing to their new-found 
relationship. Then the family worship was completed 
by the father reading the XLVI Psalm in the well-worn 
book. 

The stranger said, ‘‘Your confidence is surely great. 
This is one of many instances proving that human hearts 
have a sense given them which is more than outward 
evidence.” 

“Yes,” said Isabel, “and I think mother's coming 
will bring to us in some way the manifested evidence.” 

“Yes,” said her father, “and I trust every day is 
bringing her nearer to us, now they are on the way. This 
is such a fine morning, maybe you would be able to walk 
out with me and look around, as I expect our home here 
in the forest is something of a novelty to you.” 

“Yes, indeed, I am feeling stronger now, but I must 
not forget the cane.” Frank handed it to him then he 
brought his hat and the two men were soon on their way 
toward the bam, while Frank and Isabel stood in the 
door looking after them. 

“What do you think of him anyway, Frank?” said 
his sister. 

“Why I think he is all right and I have already de- 
cided to have him for my grandfather whether we have 
proof of it or not.” 

“But how can we ever know anything more than we 
do now unless some of the Indains could tell us?” 

“Aunt Muncy was some older than Mammy and 


A STRANGER AT FOREST HOME. 


69 


she could remember some things, or rather words she 
said, or maybe it was her Indian Mammy told them. But 
she knew who the Indian was who gave them little Blue 
Belle for their own.^' 

*‘Well, it will all be talked over when they get here. 
But think of all the years that have passed and she has 
never heard anything about her people. Now suppose 
we call him grandfather and make him feel at home 
here.” 

“All right. Sis. He is a good man and a gentleman, 
and we can have him for our grandfather as long as he 
will stay with us.” 

And Isabel nodded her head approvingly. 


CHAPTER IX. 


A REVELATION. 

L ooking forward Blue Belle saw the light and took 
courage for a moment; but, oh horror! They were 
now overtaken by the whole pack of their pursuers. She 
heard Muncy shout, at the same time she was almost 
thrown from her pony. A great wolf had leaped on her 
shoulder, its hot breath was on her cheek. The sharp 
teeth only deterred by the fur on her neck from getting a 
fatal grip of her throat. This gave her time to get a firm 
hold of her trusty knife she had drawn from her belt 
and knowing where to strike, it suddenly rolled to the 
ground. When free she found they were in front of a 
cabin and in the midst of a terrible struggle. The door 
was wide open. Muncy^s shout had been heard. A 
stalwart Indian had leaped out and was using his tom- 
ahawk, as only a practiced hunter could do in dispatch- 
ing the wolves. His dogs were doing their best but there 
were too many for them and the famished creatures 
were not giving way. 

She saw Muncy under one of the horses, by the light 
that came from the door. Each time one of the wolves 
sprang on her prostrate form, it was dispatched by the 
Indian with his weapon, but others were coming and 
soon they would spring upon him, though they avoided 
the lights. 

This was her opportunity and springing to the 


A REVELATION. 


71 


ground she rushed into the cabin where she gathered up 
some la:rge cedar limbs that had been used for a bed until 
they were dry. Holding them in the fire for a moment 
she ran out with them all aflame and brandishing them 
right ani left succeeded in frightening the wild hungry 
pack awiy from the yard, as nothing but fire would have 
done. 

When she turned to look after Muncy, the Indian 
was there before her assisting her to her feet and inquir- 
ing if she were hurt. 

As ^e pushed the blanket back from her face she 
told him ?he was not dangerously hurt. The leather and 
fur she vore had protected her neck and shoulders and 
she had leld the thick blanket over her head and face. 

“Wly this is Muncy,” said he. “Do you know me?” 

“Yes, when I saw you at the door; then I had to pull 
the blanlet over my face. How many wolves did you 
kill, Lighfoot?” 

“I cai’t tell how many. If it hadn't been for the 
fire branG the battle would have gone against us. I 
doubt if wi would ever have reached the door. It might 
have been Just see the poor horses, how tired and wet 
they are. Yes, you go into the fire and I will get the 
horses unt.ngled and take off the saddles.” 

“No,”said Blue Belle, “I will help. We had so 
many thing on the pack horses outside the saddle bags 
and they ae all over the yard.” 

Now, \hen Muncy was safe by the fire she gathered 
up some mre of the cedar boughs and, lighting them, 
started a fir farther out in the yard. Then they hasten- 
ed to get eerything inside the cabin. When this was 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


Y2 


done and the horses cared for in the long log istable, 
they began planning for supper. / 

‘‘Well, Muncy, the wolves got our turkey, well have 
to get out something else, as we had plenty beiore the 
boys gave us the things they provided.” 

“Then they told him of their experience with liie boys 
on the way. He insisted on having a warm m®l after 
such an evening as they had. That they were visiting 
him and should rest, and let him prepare it, whim he did 
and they enjoyed his hot soup and baked fish dmost as 
much as they had their dinner. ^ 

After supper, Muncy, who was feeling mud better, 
arranged the robes for reclining around the firj, while 
the others cleared away the remainder of their rich re- 
past. Soon they all sat down around the fire, the tall 
straight form of the red man on one side and the two sis- 
ters on the other. 

Throwing back the locks of black hair yith his 
shapely hands, he gazed long and earnestly a Muncy. 
Finally he said, “I notice by your packs and bumles that 
you are starting on a long journey. You are no going to 
leave the West for good, I hope?” 

“Yes, I had thought of doing so, but am Wt as sure 
of staying in Ohio as I felt to be some weeks aa. I may 
find my work this side of the Mississippi.” 

“Well,” said he, “I had not seen you for s<|long, but 
I could never forget the good times we had at lorn husk- 
ing and all the things we took part in withithe other 
youngsters. What times we did have.” Aii the tell- 
tale smiles that played over his plain featuresrave proof 
of pleasant memories awakened of the time aent on the 






His bright eyes fixed on Muncy’s face. 


A REVELATION. 


73 


Ohio hills, yes, and after they came to the new hunting 
grounds, too. 

His bright eyes fixed on Muncy's face while resting 
his elbow on the robes to his right, gave him the easy 
reclining position habitual to the well-formed Indian. 

She had known him when his father brought him to 
their tribe a lonely little boy. Then she became better 
acquainted with him, a slender youth, jovial and fore- 
most in their games. Then the band whom his father 
had joined, when he came from the east with the child, 
after his mother and all their tribe were slain, he only 
escaping and fleeing with the boy in his arms, joined the 
Miamis who were living peacefully with the French set- 
tlers in the eastern part of the Ohio Valley. These 
kind Indians tried to comfort him and assisted him in car- 
ing for the little papoose. A spirit of revenge burned 
in his bosom and he determined to kill all the white 
men's squaws and break up their homes. As an Indian 
brave, he must be true to his training and revenge the 
wrongs of his people. 

It was he who brought little Blue Belle to them, and 
afterwards she remembered him when they were driven 
from Ohio and all came West. He had become very use- 
ful in the tribe. In fact, he was a friend to everybody 
who knew him, until one time he and his son were miss- 
ing and could never be found. That was many years ago 
and they all concluded they had met with an accident, 
as they never returned. These thoughts of the past 
were going through her mind when he suddenly inquired : 
“Have you ever heard from Blue Belle since she fled with 
the young paleface your father had captured several 
years before the war?" 


74 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


Muncy felt a grip on her side under the blanket and 
took it as a warning for her not to tell him who she was. 

‘‘Oh, yes, I heard they went to a French fort and 
when they were about to be driven out by the English, 
being married while at the fort and not wanting to go 
to France, they escaped again into the forest, but of 
course, they found the wigwams all destroyed and the 
fires all out. Then they lived in a cave on the hillside 
and finally built a home down in the valley, but have 
always lived in the forest. That is all I have to tell 
about her. Now I want to know about yourself and your 
father. Is he living?’’ 

“Well, I hope he is,” said her friend. 

“Don’t you know?” asked Muncy. “What made 
you leave our country, and have you been living here in 
this great forest ever since?” 

“Yes, we lived here all these years, but I may not 
be able to answer all your questions. My father was 
getting old, his body worn out. He left it a few weeks 
ago. It has been very lonely here since. I thought I 
would go back as soon as my corn and potatoes were 
gathered. You may not believe me, but I longed to see 
you more than any one else. I am glad I was still here 
or the wolves might have devoured you.” 

“Well, they surely would. Your light guided me 
here. It was a spark at first, but it gave me courage to 
press on till it became brighter.’' 

Blue Belle, whose head was resting on Muncy’s lap 
with closed eyes, appeared to be sleeping, while listen- 
ing to the conversation of the dusky lovers in their own 
tongue. 

“But you have not told me why your father took 


A REVELATION. 


75 


you away. Mother thought they were doing all they 
could for your comfort, as he had no woman and no 
mother.'' 

“Yes, that is true, and my father appreciated your 
kindness. He was attached to you all. It was on my 
account he left. They were talking of training me for 
a brave or chief and he felt that he could not have me put 
through the hardening process it requires for a brave 
among our people. I can not explain this matter fully 
without giving you my father's experience. I mean the 
part that made him different from other Indians, all the 
latter part of his life. Something he felt so deeply that 
he never spoke of it even to me, until he told me with 
so much feeling a short time before he went away. 

“It is connected with blue Belle. I have among the 
things most carefully treasured by him, a little necklace 
he said belonged to her. It must have cost much money ; 
made of pearls and a crest of diamonds." 

Blue Belle moved her head slightly to hide her face 
in Muncy's lap that the boy's disguise would keep her 
from being known. 

Muncy saying nothing, he continued. “As the de- 
sign appears to be French, we thought she might learn 
something of her own people, if any of them are yet 
alive. If you and your friend are going to the old hunt- 
ing ground in Ohio, 1 might send it by you. Who is this 
woman anyway? While she had her cap on I thought 
she was a squaw, but with it off the firelight shows some 
of the waves, and these are always absent in the Indian's 
hair. Was she any one I ever knew? She must be 
sound asleep," he said, lowering his voice. 


76 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


Here she moved again, drawing the blanket over 
her back hair, but said nothing. 

He was waiting for a reply from Muncy. 

‘‘Yes, I must admit she is painted. She is a white 
woman but I think a heap of her. She helped me care 
for my mother and was with me when she left us, but 
she wants to look like an Indian now. While she sleeps 
you go on with the account of your father's last hours. 
I am wanting to know the part which is no doubt sacred 
to you, if you are willing to tell me. I liked to hear him 
talk and he had good influence in our tribe. We missed 
you both after you went away. Most especially his 
counsel which had great weight in deciding important 
matters." 

Saying it would be a relief to tell her, he went to 
the farther side of the hut and removing several robes, 
he brought out a roll of flnest deer skins to the light of 
the fire, and unrolling these produced a good-sized box 
filled with trinkets and such things as Indians have 
among their most valued keepsakes. Kneeling beside it, 
he took out a small box wrapped in a fawn skin, and 
taking off the lid, held up a little necklace. As the light 
of the fire played upon it, Muncy gave a cry of delight as 
she closed her hand on Blue Belle's. 

She raized her head and gazed on the glittering 
jewels for a moment, then whispered, “My own people 
were French." Closing her eyes she again sank down 
as if overcome with sleep. The man was putting the 
necklace away, wrapping it just as it had lain so long. 
She was careful not to lose a word as he proceeded to 
relate what his father had told him about the little girl 
to whom it belonged, and how one day he wandered 


A REVELATION. 


77 


through the forest, lonely and enraged, thinking how the 
paleface men had destroyed their homes and all that 
was dear to them and continued taking their land and 
driving them away into a strange country toward the set- 
ting sun. Then he thought why should the braves be 
so weak as to let them drive us away, and make nice 
homes for themselves, spoiling all our hunting grounds? 
Suddenly he came to a place where the trees were all 
cleared out and a nice little house with bright flowers 
around the door steps, and farther away com and pota- 
toes growing as he had never seen them grow before. 
Going into the house he found a white woman. When 
she saw him she was so terrified that she fell on the bed 
near her, taking her little son in her arms. Patting her 
bosom she told the Indian by signs that her child would 
starve if she was killed. But his soul was lost in bittei’- 
ness and revenge. As he gathered her soft hair in his 
hand, she fainted. When he had scalped her he thought 
he must kill the child as he did not want him. When he 
raised his arm to strike the fatal blow the babe looked 
up and smiled, holding out his hands as if he loved him. 
He hesitated for a moment, his heart touched, but he 
would not let tenderness rule his determination, and the 
cruel deed was done in the very light of heaven shining 
through the face of that innocent child. He left the 
little one beside his mother, dead, and went away with 
the little girl to the Indian village, wending his way 
through the thick wood. When he came to a log he sat 
down to rest. She sat on his knee eating the parched 
com he gave her and smiled in his face with the same 
confidence her little brother had shown, which was more 
than he could bear and he gave her to some of his 


78 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


friends. He said that the smile that apparently was lost 
with one blow, always stayed with him and changed his 
life. He no longer cared to be an Indian brave and 
found it not hard to love his enemies. He never took 
the life of a human being or gave his consent for others 
to do so after that experience. 

While he kept the scalps he had taken, it was not 
to show his victory, for he ceased to wear them as tro- 
phies, or hang them in his wigwam to be seen. For many 
years they have been kept, carefully put away out of 
sight. You may not care to see any of them unless it 
were Blue Belle's mother, the most beautiful hair among 
them all. 

Muncy felt her white sister's form tremble and she 
whispered, ‘‘What shall I do?" 

“Tell him," she replied, “that I am awake. That I 
am Blue Belle." She raised up on her elbow and gazed 
into the fire. The Indian raised to his feet and stood 
as if paralyzed, as he was unable to realize what he had 
done. 

Aroused at length from her revery, she exclaimed : 
“Mother, my own mother? Can you tell me her name 
and mine ? All I can remember is being carried through 
the woods and coming to a big fire with many red people 
gathered around it and they were all looking at me." 

“I wish I could tell you, but my opinion is my father 
never knew. He was a stranger in that part of the 
country, where the French and Indians were on good 
terms and lived with unprotected homes, at times going to 
the forts for such things as were needed. I was too 
young to remember anything but seeing you sitting on 
my father's knee. They said you told them, when 


A REVELATION. 


79 


questioned, that your name was Belle, your eyes being 
so blue many of them said call her 'Blue Belle,’ and we 
have known you by that name ever since. Your neck- 
lace has the letters I. D. V. carved on the inside,” said 
he, handing it to her. 

"Yes, I think it is French. Expect the T was for 
Isabel, and they called me Belle for short. My father 
may be living and other relatives too. If we had the 
full name it would give us a better chance, but we will 
make all the effort in our power. I know my good man 
will help me. And my poor mother. Let me have that 
sea — that — oh, dear, you know, her hair, with the part 
of her poor dear head attached to it. How dreadful !” 

He gave her the larger box with hesitancy, wishing 
it had never been kept. 

"I have often seen strings of these,” she said, "but 
never realized how terrible it was until now,” and she 
looked them over one by one. "Why the English gave 
the Indians so much apiece for all they could get from 
the settlers families, whom they called rebels, as they 
had struck for liberty. So when the men were away 
fighting for the right of a free country their families 
were not safe, unless in forts or towns. And this, my 
mother’s, how can I bear to think of it? Yet, I must/’ 
As she held it up and the light shown on it, she exclaim- 
ed : "Why, it is just the color of my daughter’s hair. My 
own sweet Isabel, and she don’t resemble her father or 
me. Maybe she is like my mother in disposition and 
looks.” Again she was silent, trying to penetrate the 
past, her origin and her people. 

Muncy felt more than ever that she was being sep- 


80 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


arated from the only sister she had ever known. At 
length she ventured to ask if she would take it with her. 

“Will I take it with me? Why, of course I will. It 
is all I have left of my mother. No one to tell me any- 
thing about her. Oh! If I had only been older so I 
could remember something of her!^’ 

“Well, it must be getting late, and we must get all 
the rest we can, so we will feel like traveling to-morrow. 
We can sleep here by the fire, canT we, Mr. Lightfoot?^^ 

“Yes,” said he, “but I will fix you a bed. I have 
plenty of robes.” 

With the little box containing her necklace, he gave 
her another for her mother’s hair, as she called the 
scalp. Tying them together with fine leather strings, 
then wrapping the soft little fa^vn skin around them 
both, she put them away in a safe place in her saddle- 
bags. “Now,” said she, “they will be all right till we 
get home.” 

“Yes,” said Lightfoot, “and I may as well bum the 
others. It is not likely any of the others will ever be 
wanted.” 

“Will you please let me see them again?” While 
looking over them she had been attracted by a very 
small one with light silken ringlets. “This was next to 
mother’s on the end of the string, and it might, yes, it 
must be my little brother’s.” Twisting the little curls 
caressingly around her fingers, she wrapped them care- 
fully with her mother’s and put them all away, while 
he was arranging their bed and mounting the ladder to 
his own resting place. Our travelers were soon asleep 
for the night. 









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CHAPTER X. 


INDIAN LOVERS. 

W HEN they awoke next morning and Blue Belle was 
aroused enough to know it was daylight and where 
they were, she lay thinking over all that occurred the 
evening before. The more she thought the greater was 
her longing to know more about her own people. When 
Muncy began to stir they were soon up and clad in their 
Indian garb. 

When Lightfoot came down and started the fire, 
and brought water and put over it to boil, their simple 
breakfast was soon prepared and partaken by them al- 
most in silence ; Blue Belle simply remarking how much 
they had to be thankful for, felt that her thoughts were 
too deep for utterance. 

Lightfoot soon proposed a tramp around the prem- 
ises, and to see his father's grave. 

To this Muncy gladly agreed. 

Blue Belle said she would be preparing everything 
ready to load the horses while they cared for them and 
had their walk, as she wanted to be on their journey 
again as soon as possible. 

Throwing their blankets around them, Muncy and 
her friend went out into the crisp morning air, leaving 
the white woman to her thoughts and employment. The 
fracas they had with the wolves made repacking nec- 
essary. 


82 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


She was more anxious than before to get home and 
unburden her mind to Jehu. She was so glad her affec- 
tions and choice in life had been guided and taken away 
to her own again. If he had not been captured and 
come to her, she would have grown up without even 
hearing the English language, and finally married an 
Indian Chief. “Maybe I would have thought the In- 
dians were all right. No, I think I could never have 
loved a cruel Indian as I love my good man. Well, I 
have been among them nearly half my life and they 
were kind to me, unless it was when I loved Jehu Bailey. 
There is one thing I do know, people should not con- 
demn them all because some of them are trained up 
to be cruel. Many of them are good like Muncy. It's 
the same way with white people, only most of them have 
better opportunities to be Christians." 

While her thoughts were running on and on over the 
conditions of her past life, Lightfoot and Muncy were 
going around the clearing among the com and beans and 
other vegetables he had planted and cultivated and final- 
ly to his father's resting place, under the great trees. 

“I thought about fixing a place overhead, but con- 
cluded it would be better and less likely to be disturbed 
under the ground, with these rocks over it. This forest 
is full of wild animals and I can not stay here to protect 
it. This tube I put down to the box to admit air and 
you see the berries I filled it with have not been taken out 
from below. If he did not come to in two weeks and 
take some of them out, he never would. They never 
sank the least bit, for I have watched them closely. Say, 
Muncy, I don't feel like going back to the Indian Terri-; 
tory now that I know you are not there. I think I will 


INDIAN LOVERS. 


83 


stay here in the woods alone until you come back.” 

''Oh, no, you should not do so, Eighty. You will 
find plenty of friends. Just tell the boys I sent you to 
them.” 

"Well, there is another thing on my mind that ismore 
to me than anything else. I see you have never married. 
If I thought, or if I knew you were caring for me all these 
years, how happy I would be. Dare I to believe this to 
be true?” Receiving no reply he continued: "I know 
you had offers before we came away and the standing 
of your family with your own influence, among all you 
were acquainted with makes, me sure you would have 
more.” 

Still she was silent, and he came closer. "Muncy, 
I have been thinking about you and caring for you since 
we were young folks together.” 

Her face was hid in the blanket now and he received 
not a word of encouragement, but he went on. "You are 
the only woman I ever did care for. Now we are middle- 
aged man and woman and we have met again, and your 
voice, your manner, fascinate me even more than they 
did twenty years ago. All I want to know is whether 
you care for me.” 

Woman-like, she would not let him know that she 
cared, until she knew of a certainty how much she was 
to him, tho’ his presence and his voice filled the void she 
had felt in her heart for so many years, so that when she 
uncovered her face, such a halo of light and joy shown 
there. It was more than words to him. Putting his 
strong arms around her, he pressed her to his breast in 
an ecstasy of joy. Then they sat down on a moss-cover- 
ed rock.. She told him she had not known how much she 


84 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOBEST. 


had cared for him, until he and his father disappeared 
so mysteriously. They all cared for a long time, but 
when they had ceased to mention their names, except 
when something occurred to bring them to mind again, 
she continued to think of him but kept it to herself, not 
being sure that he had ever cared for her. 

‘‘Yes,’’ she continued, “I never told any one except 
my mother, and she found it out some way before I told 
her. No, I couldn’t tell even Blue Belle. But I can now, 
and that reminds me, we must go to her. I wonder how 
long we have been out here and she so anxious to be on 
her way home.” 

A sigh escaped his lips as they arose to return to 
the cabin, and the thought how soon they would be sep- 
arated again. They found Blue Belle ready to start. 
She had brought out the horses and loaded them herself, 
after tying them to some small trees near the door. 

“You don’t need apologize,” she said, laughing. “I 
know love never measures time.” 

“Well, Muncy, she seems to understand all about 
it without our having to tell her.” 

“Yes, I understand some things, but maybe not all. 
So you really have something to tell.” 

“Muncy, putting her arm around Blue Belle’s neck, 
told her, while Lightfoot went for his horse, intending to 
go with them until they crossed the big water. 

She told her she had somebody to live for who 
would be her very own. That they had talked it over 
and decided to make a home for themselves on the Indian 
Reservation. 

“Well, if you have gone that far,” said Blue Belle, 


INDIAN LOVERS. 


86 


“he had best go with us back to the Ohio country and be 
married at my home.” 

“If you think best, we might accept your offer for 
next spring. Then he can gather his crop and go back 
to the Indian village, his old home, and take up land for 
our new home, and stay with our friends there while 
building and planting trees for our prairie home. You 
know how many little buttonwood trees are growing near 
the river. We want a grove of them for shade and tim- 
ber. Eighty will enjoy having our own woods besides 
the fruit trees he wants to get started this fall. I see he 
is coming now with his horse. Yes, I want to go and 
spend the winter in your home as we planned before I 
knew about this. I can learn much about keeping house 
and be getting my things ready too. I want to have a 
model home and be a good example to all the tribe. Yes, 
I want to have everything ready for we will want to at- 
tend the Mission school.” 

“Well, that just suits me if you are willing to wait. 
It will be fine to have you with us through the winter. 
You will have a chance to spin and weave, and get more 
new things in the way of goods for clothing that are be- 
ing brought from the East now.” 

“My, but we will have good times next winter!” 

They were out on the woods trail now. They had 
been traveling the night before through the black 
swampy ground in the great forest of closely standing 
giant trees. Blue Belle's heart leaped for joy that they 
were safely on the way again. 

Muncy inquired, as Lightfoot lead the way, if he 
thought they would get through the woods before night- 
fall, and he replied, laughing, “Yes, of course we will. 


86 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


unless we stop for a turkey dinner.'' They proposed to 
have parched com for a noon repast and eat it on the 
way if there was the least bit of danger of night overtak- 
ing them. 

‘This is a fearful place," said Blue Belle: “Just 
think of us planning beforehand to stop and build a fire 
to keep the wild beasts away, if we failed to reach any 
suitable stopping place, and the darkness came down so 
suddenly we had no time for anything but to take that 
terrible ride. Muncy, you must have known something 
about that little home in the great woods, the way you 
rode to get there. What do you think about it. Light- 
foot?" 

“That is more than I can tell. One thing I do know ; 
it was many long years before she came at all. While 
she was caring for her mother, and I could not leave my 
father, our chance for meeting again was rather hope- 
less. Thanks to a kind Providence, our patient waiting 
is now reaping a rich reward." 

Now Blue Belle proposed to lead and urged her 
pony to a faster trot until she was some distance ahead, 
that she might avoid being a third party in the company. 
After riding alone for some distance, thinking of the 
future, it occurred to her that the pack horses they were 
taking were to carry Muncy's things she wished to keep. 
Now since she had decided to come West with Lightfobt 
in the spring and build a home in that part of the coun- 
try, might it not be just as well to leave them with him 
to be taken care of until she returned? Strange they 
had not thought of this before. Checking the gait of her 
pony, which she noticed was more rapid when apart 
from the pack horse, she rode slowly along until the oth- 


INDIAN LOVERS. 


87 


ers overtook her. She told them what she had been 
thinking, and after talking tha matter over, they decided 
it would be best, for they would be likely to make the 
journey by water in the spring. 

“It will be like living in a new world to have you 
with me, but to have our wedding trip on a boat run by 
steam seems impossible.'’ 

“Yes, now that Fulton has succeeded in the experi- 
men'i, everybody is astonished, as they said it would nev- 
er amount to anything," said Blue Belle. 

“It's a pity we brought the horses and all these 
things this far," said Muncy. “It will be such a bother 
to you hading both the pack horses on this trail." 

“No " said Lightfoot, “with a long rope and by tying 
them together. I'll get along all right. As soon as we 
get through the woods we will come to a settlement and 
I can leave the horses there and go on until I see you 
across the river, and on my return, stay there all night 
again, starting early in the morning, get home before 
night." 

“But they will be to care for all winter." 

“Well, I shall not mind that. It will keep me from 
getting so lonesome, to have something of your's to care 
for. I can use them for hauling logs and timber for 
building. I am so glad Blue Belle mentioned it. It is 
the very thing to dc, for you can travel so much faster 
and with more satisfaction. You would have no use for 
them out there, anyway, as I suppose they have oxen to 
do their heavy work.” 

They had now cone to a good stopping place where 
the horses could be fed md watered and they would have 
time to eat while they nsted. Blue Belle helped bring 


88 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


the things out and get the others seated. She said she 
would take a cake and a piece of meat and go over where 
the packs were and be getting the things out they wou/d 
want to take with them, while she was eating. She sAid 
she was not hungry, that was all she would want. She 
would rather be alone with her own thoughts, an<i she 
knew the lovers ought to be to themselves the shoii time 
they had to be together. How good it was to be Reliev- 
ed from taking the loaded horses. The roads w^uld be 
better, so they could enjoy the rest of the trip, if she 
could only hear how they were at home, but she had 
reason to believe they were well and waiting /to receive 
her with open arms. / 

When Muncy came to assist in separatii^ the things 
she would wish to take with them from tl^ ones she 
could leave behind, the work went much f^ter, as it was 
really she who had to decide, though BlRe Belle had 
them all laid out ready. “You know it Ron't take much 
room for my things,'' she said, “so I ca^ take part of 
your's. I am sure we can get everything you want on 
the ponies." / 

“Well, you see, I want to take /omething to Frank 
and Isabel, something they can't finR in Ohio. You will 
have to help me select the things mey will like." 

By the time Lightfoot came ;ii*ound with the horses, 
everything was packed, ready t(/ be loaded, and they 
were soon on the way again, Bl^e Belle going ahead un- 
til she saw some hunters comi^ that way. As she 
thought they looked like savages when they gazed at her, 
she fell back, and when theyiiad passed them, she rode 
on again, thinking about th/ boys and her disguise, of 
course. When these Indian hunters saw Muncy and 


INDIAN LOVERS. 


89 


Lightfoot, they may have thought she was an Indian 
Queen. There were quite a number of them and she 
was glad she was painted anyway. 

The afternoon passed and nothing more occurred, 
with the exception of the game they saw by the way, all 
intent on escaping in the forest. 

No wolves or other dangerous animals were seen, 
though the shades of evening were gathering around 
them when they left the great woods behind them, and 
in a short time, reached the settlement. Lightfoot's 
friends welcomed him warmly and gladly received 
Muncy and Blue Belle as friends of his. 

When supper was over, seeing they were weary 
from the day's journey, Lightfoot requested a room for 
them, and when they were alone, though they had much 
they would like to have talked over after their late ex- 
perience, it had to be left for another time, for they were 
soon sleeping soundly. 


CHAPTER XI. 


BLUE BELLE CONTINUES HER JOURNEY. 

A fter they had crossed the river, Lightfoot left them 
to return to his lonely home to live now in h^ppy 
preparation for carrying out their plans for the future. 

Muncy was silent, wrapped in thought, while they 
traveled over a good country road, side by side, many 
miles without speaking a word. As they had left their 
lodging place early, they were making good time, and 
neither one was in a talkative mood. Both were happy, 
yet separated from the ones they loved and a long jour- 
ney before them. They were coming to a part of the 
country where the woods was broken by numerous set- 
tlements. They knew kind, hospitable people lived in 
the small log houses where the pioneers were clearing 
land, planting orchards and making fences around the 
grain fields, already green and promising, though cover- 
ed with charred stumps, where dextrous hands would 
have to swing the cradles in cutting the golden grain of 
next year's harvest. 

As it was coming near the noon hour. Blue Belle 
suggested stopping at one of the farm houses for dinner. 
‘T mean to feed our ponies of the corn we still have with 
us and eat our own victuals under the shade of a tree, 
just to be near somebody's home." 

^'All right," said Muncy, and when they drew rein 
at the next house, near the road, the man and woman 


BLUE BELLE CONTINUES HER JOURNEY. 91 


both came out and invited them in, while the smell of a 
good dinner boiling at the fireplace ca;me through the 
open door. Of course, they felt like enjoying a warm 
meal after their long ride in the pure breeze which was 
just brisk enough to be pleasant. They noticed several 
children. A little baby was crying for its mother, who 
had been too busy to care for it. They motioned to her 
to go to the little one in the house, saying they would care 
for themselves, that they had their dinner with them and 
feed for their ponies. If they allowed them to enjoy the 
shade and use their troughs for watering and feeding, 
they could get along all right. 

Having assured them that they were welcome, he went 
to his dinner. 

They had laid the saddle-bags and extra sacks un- 
der a great tree, and, after caring for the ponies, took out 
their cakes and cold meat, and sat down on them to eat. 
They saw an elderly woman, with a limp in her brisk 
step, coming down the walk with a large yellow bowl of 
steaming hot cabbage and rich soup, two saucers and 
spoons on top. 

Blue Bell sprang to meet her, exclaiming: '‘Oh, 
grandmother, this is for us! I expect you have been a 
traveler some time and knew just how we would appre- 
ciate this hot soup.” 

"Yes, my dear, I do, and I knew it would do you 
good. Can I get something hot for you to drink?” 

"No, indeed, mother, this is both food and drink and 
with our dry bread, will make a complete meal.” 

"Well, if you want any more, come to the door and 
I will get it for you. My daughter said they invited you 


92 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


in, but she thought you were afraid it would add to her 
care.*' 

‘‘Well, for that part, we will enjoy it out here better, 
and this large dish will be all we shall need." 

The woman went to her dinner happy in knowing 
she had done her part. The travelers ate the soup with 
a relish known only when the appetite is right. 

“The finest dinner in the best eating-house could be 
no better than this soup, as it is seasoned just right. Did 
you ever think what a great thing salt is? How taste- 
less the very best vegetables are without it. On the 
other hand too much spoils it all.’* 

“Yes, I think we can get a valuable lesson from 
this,** said Muncy. “When Jesus told His Disciples 
‘they were the salt of the earth* He meant a great deal. 
And when He said, ‘If the salt has lost its savor, where- 
with or how shall it be salted?* So if those who claim to 
be His disciples and followers to minister, giving His Gos- 
pel to the world, fail to impart the savor of the Gospel, 
or fail to use it judiciously, according to the need, a 
sense of which can only be found by seeking and waiting 
for His Spirit to guide us from within.** 

“Yes,** said Blue Belle, “if we only had more real, 
true dispensers of spiritual food in the world, the souls 
of the people would grow and be prepared for God’s 
Kingdom on earth for which Jesus taught His Disciples 
to pray. We have the premise “that with this Kingdom 
all things needful will be added.* I have just been 
thinking how true this is in your case. For with the mis- 
sionary spirit born and nutured through the long years 
in which the craving of your heart was never satisfied, 
while you nursed an almost hopeless love, you knew hu- 


BLUE BELLE CONTINUES HER JOURNEY. 93 


man nature was weak, so you sought and found the Com- 
forter whose strength was so much greater than your own, 
that through it you have been able to comfort and cheer 
every one with whom you mingled. So the weak looked 
to you for strength. Yet it is given without respect of 
person to the man or woman who seeks until they find 
atonement with God, through His Spirit the Christ. Now 
added to this which you found and have kept and lived 
for others the needful things in this life for your own 
happiness are being given. I know from my own experi- 
ence what the joy of a faithful, loving companion must 
be to the Christian soldier treading the way alone, with 
no one in whom they can confide for human sympathy 
and physical strength, while you are suspended, as it 
were, twixt earth and heaven, with one hand clasped in 
God’s infinite power and the other extended to weak err- 
ing humanity. I surely know of no one more deserving 
of this blessing.” 

‘'Oh, then you think it is all right,” said Muncy. 
“You know what Paul said, ‘That when he was at home 
in the flesh he was absent from the Lord,’ and we know 
he was a great worker.” 

“Yes, and we know from his writings what a time 
he had fighting the evil in himself, until the better part 
became so strong he couldn’t be separated from it, so he 
could say, ‘to live is Christ.’ And to be governed by His 
Spirit gave him liberty to enjoy all things that were good. 
Yes, Muncy, I believe God smiles on your happiness and 
your prospect of visiting with the friends of your child- 
hood, then returning to your own people, with an oppor- 
tunity of serving them in a way that is both pleasing and 


94 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


profitable and bring joy to the hearts of the many 
that love you.’' 

Muncy leaned over, and putting her arm around 
Blue Belle thanked her for the comforting message she 
had given her. Then they arose to go. The farmer 
came forward and said he would bring out the ponies, 
but he wanted to tell them first what was on his tnind. 
‘‘When I was taking my noon rest between the lilac bush 
and the house, I heard you talking, and realized that you 
were talking language I could understand. This arous- 
ed my curiosity and I became interested in what you were 
saying, as I had thought you were both Indians. What 
I want to say this: We have been living here for several 
years. Some of our neighbors and others living in the 
little village, some ten miles away, are interested in hav- 
ing a little church and a preacher. My wife and her 
mother have been wanting me to join with others in 
building one. I have not been able to see any good it 
will do us or others from all I could remember hearing in 
the old church we attended in Boston, back East, but 
since hearing you talk on religious subjects, I see every- ^ 
thing depends on knowing more about God and the Bible. 
No matter how we prosper, none of it can do us any good 
if we are not happy and don’t understand how to live. It 
is none of my business whether you are Indians or white 
women. I just wanted you to know that I believe it 
worth while to work and seek to possess, what you were 
talking to each other about. It is something real. I 
must not detain you longer,” he said, starting to the 
stable. 

While he brought out the ponies and put the saddles 
and saddle-bags on, they had some conversation with the 


BLUE BELLE CONTINUES HER JOURNEY. 95 


mother and grandmother. Enough to know that they 
believed in Christianity, but he could not understand it 
in the garb they had been taught to clothe it in. When 
he heard in the simple language they used, or rather 
overheard, it was so plain he caught a glimpse of the 
truth, which every one must find for themselves, if they 
would have a light to shine for others. 

When they were on the way again, the cloud had 
been lifted and they conversed freely of the past, but 
mostly planning for the future; how the time would be 
spent after they were at home. 

They were coming to a part of the country more 
thickly settled now, finding kind, hospitable people all 
the way with whom they could lodge and feel safe in 
their clean, simple homes. 

‘‘Say, Muncy, did you notice how people gazed at us 
when we were coming through that large town? Fort 
Dearborn, I think the missionaries said the name was. 
Maybe they remembered seeing my pony, and might 
possibly have remembered how I appeared on the way 
when I was coming West and were surprised at my ap- 
pearance now.” 

“Well, if that is the case, it is time you were getting 
the paint and feathers off. I am sure you will have no 
need for them on this end of our journey.” 

“That is right and I will be glad to be getting rid of 
this paint. It is so uncomfortable, especially my hair and 
cheeks where they put it on so thick. I think if I had to 
use things like this I would soon cease to be different in 
appearance from the Indian women.” 

“Yes,” said Muncy, “and I expect you do not know 
your fine complexion and lustrous hair were preserved 


96 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


by your almost mother's care. She never allowed any- 
thing used that would in any way change the natural ap- 
pearance of either.” 

**No, I never knew that,” said Blue Belle. ”Sure it 
is I will never know iiow much I owe our red mother for 
her wise care over me during my childhood and early 
youth. The only real sacrifice I ever made for her was 
leaving my family to come to her in the time of great 
need, when our friends and especially our children must 
be so much to us. Then as you know, it gave her an op- 
portunity to relieve her mind concerning certain matters 
about the time when my interest centered on Jehu, which 
must have been a great disappointment to my red 
parents. 

"‘As it is coming time for our noon-day meal, I want 
to stop by a clear running brook. I will take a good 
wash. The sun is shining so warm to-day, it will be the 
very time and there is nothing I could enjoy better just 
now.” 

‘The ponies cantered along over the soft road in re- 
sponse to their riders wish and soon they came to a bridge 
and the sight of sparkling water. Muncy suggested they 
had better water and feed the ponies, and have their lunch 
in the usual way, as the washing process might be a tedi- 
ous one and they had better make sure of their dinners. 

When that was over they found a moss-covered log 
close to the running brook under the shade of a great 
tree. The leafy branches reached out over the stream 
and a hollow at the roots made a large basin of water at 
the edge of the bank, the home of tnany little fishes dart- 
ing around in the sunshine. Soon many of them would 


BLUE BELLE CONTINUES HER JOURNEY. 97 

find a hiding place farther back under the roots of the 
tree. 

*'This is a fine place/^ said Blue Belle. ‘‘The sun 
has made the water warm, too/^ Muncy brought out the 
linen bag containing their brushes and combs, a piece of 
soap and some wash rags and a small towel. They were 
ready for business. 

“I wonder how I have endured having my head and 
neck in such a plight all the days and nights we have 
been on the way? Now I can scarcely wait a minute. I 
am so anxious to be getting it off since there is no neces- 
sity for keeping it on.^’ 

“Well, you'll not have to wait longer. We'll do 
what we can in the warm part of the day. Your hair will 
dry with the air and sunshine while we journey, if we 
can get that black stuff out of it. I want to see it hang- 
ing loose in wavy clusters around your neck and face, as 
it used to do years ago when we were out riding." 

Blue Belle was being transformed as far as lather 
could change her appearance while Muncy was talking. 
Now she was ready for her part of the work. Putting 
on a large cotton apron, she began the task as soon as 
she could for laughing at the forlorn object presented. 

“Here is a cloth. Do make haste," said Blue Belle. 
“If some one should happen to come along the road, what 
would they think, not knowing my reason for being in 
such a fix?" 

“Surely I will," said Muncy, “for you look worse 
now than you have at all. If you could see yourself you 
would excuse me for laughing. Actually if anybody 
does come along they might report having seen a spook 
on this woods road and make some people afraid of this 


98 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


beautiful place below the bridge. There is always some 
reason for the ghost stories some imaginative people keep 
circulating in new settlements. Well, I canT see what 
we can do, the soap brings some of it loose, but the more 
I rub your head, the blacker it gets, and the red and 
black stripes on your face seem to be there to stay. The 
soap and water and rubbing makes them show plainer. 
I don’t wonder now that mother wouldn’t allow anything 
put on your velvety face and neck.” 

‘Tor pity’s sake, let’s get down to the water and get 
rid of what you have soaked and rubbed loose.” 

By this time Blue Belle’s eyes were losing the ability 
to serve her. Muncy led her to the sunny part of the 
stream where she could lean over and bathe her face and 
have her hair and head washed. Muncy rubbed her 
neck, ears and head with all the energy habitual to her 
when something required cleansing, adding soap from 
time to time, never ceasing, until at last Blue Belle pro- 
tested she had bourne all she could. “If it won’t come 
off with all that rubbing, let it stay on till it wears away. 
I suppose it will sometime. I just feel like crying, but 
that would do no good. I know they will be glad to have 
me at home no matter how I look.” After rinsing her 
face and hair again, and going on the plan suggested by 
Muncy that there was as much in good wiping as washing 
— but none of it proving satisfactory — rthey gave it up 
and sat down on the log to rest a few minutes before get- 
ting the ponies. 

“Are you sorry you allowed the boys to put that ter- 
rible stuff on your hair and paint your face. Blue Belle?” 

“Oh, no. I am here safe now and if I had not been 
disguised there is no telling where I might be now. Don’t 


BLUE BELLE CONTINUES HER JOURNEY. 99 


you remember seeing the big hunters when we were 
coming through the great woods? They came close enough 
for me to see they were savages and could soon have 
overpowered us and carried me off if they had wanted to. 
You never knew how scared I was and how glad I was for 
the paint and feathers when that big Indian was gazing 
at me from among the trees. You know I fell back and 
waited until you and Lightfoot came up. They were 
farther away by that time and I said nothing. Expect I 
will have to wait till I get home, yet I would like to be 
looking natural when my folks see me. However, the 
great thing is to get there. I am sure of a warm wel- 
come, if I am disfigured.” 

‘T thought it would come off,” said Muncy, looking 
very sad. ‘T am sorry I laughed at you now.” 

“Never mind, I am glad we will be safe for the rest 
of the way.” She gathered up the towels Muncy had 
hung on the bushes in the sun, saying they were nearly 
dry. A wild blackberry brier caught them and detained 
her a moment, as if to hinder her making too much haste. 
But they were soon on their way, making good time as 
before. 

“The next night was spent with a young couple in 
a one-room house, who shared their bed with them. It 
was getting late and as the husband was not ready to 
come at the wife's suggestion they retired to the back 
part of the bed, while she and her babe occupied the 
front. They had a good night's rest and when they 
awoke the next morning the baby was sleeping quietly 
on the place she had left, while the girl wife was busy 
getting breakfast. No man was to be seen, but his bed 
at the side of the chimney, out of the way, was just as he 


100 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


had left it, showing he had given up his bed to accommo- 
date them and had slept on the floor. 

They were very glad to have them stop in their lit- 
tle home since they had left all their relatives and friends 
in the far East. Bringing all their belongings with them, 
they had settled in this lonely spot to build up a home for 
themselves. He had already cleared enough ground to 
raise vegetables and grain for their own use. They said 
when they started on the journey, they had expected to 
go farther West. But having to go slow, as much of the 
way was on new road after they left Richmond, a few 
hundred miles back. The trees had been cut very low in 
the ground and they made the road bumpy, causing the 
wagon to jolt so, that the little woman was nearly worn 
out before they reached Knox, a small settlement in the 
woods. Coming a few miles farther they decided to 
make that the end of their journey as the land was level 
and rich, and not far from some of the lakes they were 
told and only one or two days’ journey to Fort Dearborn, 
or Chicago, as they call it now. 

'‘We bought a large tract of land here,” said he, 
"believing it to be a good investment, as it will be thickly 
settled before many years.” 

"Yes, it is quite likely it will,” said Blue Belle. "We 
were so glad to And you here last night and will never 
forget your kindness in sharing the comforts of your 
home with us last night, as we had traveled later than 
usual on this long woods road, flnding no place to stop 
until we came to your home, with its cheerful light 
among the night sounds in the dense woods. We heard 
no wolves or panthers, but the moon was not up, and we 
began to feel anxious until we saw your welcome light.” 


BLUE BELLE CONTINUES HER JOURNEY. 101 


‘‘You were in no danger/' said their host, ‘‘as they 
have all been driven out or killed. The men gather up 
from the settlements when a day has been set for a drive 
and when they have decided on a center, they form a great 
circle, gradually coming together. As they near the 
center, they allow no ferocious animal to escape, and if 
they do, it is repeated until no more are seen by hunters 
or others in the neighborhood. They are getting scarce 
in this flat country, being no rocks or caves where they 
can hide, they have to leave. The white settlers know 
how to get rid of these things, if they can get dogs and 
enough ammunition.” 

“Well,” said Blue Belle, “clearing the country of 
these things opens the way for clearing the land and rais- 
ing all manner of good things in the soil. So you see, 
Muncy, how the Indians' prejudice in preserving the 
hunting grounds was hindering them from advancing. 
What would have done them more good, though they 
grew up with a love for the wilderness? If you keep 
your health and strength I would like to see your home 
twenty-five years from now, judging from the start you 
have already made.” 

With words of encouragement to the mother holding 
the little one in her arms, they were off on the road again 
early in the morning, after a warm breakfast. 


CHAPTER XII. 


MEETING KIND FRIENDS. 

T he evening of the next day they were nearing a village 
and being weary, decided to stop at a tavern, have 
their ponies cared for, get a good night^s rest and be on 
their way early and spend no time talking. The country 
was getting more open now. Meeting an elderly man he 
advised them, seeing that they were travelers, that if 
they were going very far they had better get to the Na- 
tional Road, which they did by following his directions 
and were very much encouraged as they would have 
such a good road to the East that they could travel all the 
way until nearly home. They went on in the best of 
spirits. One day more and they would be to Union City, 
and cross the line into the State of Ohio. Blue Belle de- 
clared they must lose no more time on her appearance 
if she did look worse than a respectable Indian, as she 
had seen herself in the big looking glass at the tavern 
the morning before, she could not forget just how she 
looked now. 

When the noon hour ca!me they halted in an open 
place by the side of the road, where abundance of nice 
grass was growing. Giving the ponies their feed of 
shelled corn, they sat down to partake of another dry 
meal and no prospect of getting any hot soup, *‘Not even 
the smell of it,’" Muncy remarked, laughing. 


MEETING KIND FRIENDS. 


103 


“Well, if we had some cool water to drink, I would 
be satisfied,^' said Blue Belle. Putting the things away 
they thought of the ponies. 

Muncy said, “Yes, it is worse for them to have no 
drink than it is for us, for they only drank a little this 
morning and have been going on the canter ever since.^' 

Taking them farther down where the grass was 
thicker. Blue Belle noticed the ground was softer. From 
appearances there was water not far away. Leaving the 
ponies to enjoy the fresh grass they pushed the bushes 
aside. “If it was the right time of year we would have 
plenty of fruit, for these are huckleberry bushes, the tall 
kind that grow in bogs.” Going a few steps farther they 
found running water and decided its course had been 
turned when the road was made. Finding some large 
leaves on a tree nearby, they soon made some cups and 
enjoyed a good drink at the little brook in the woods. 
When they were watering the ponies before leaving. Blue 
Belle said, “I would like to visit this place sometime 
again, especially when the berries are ripe and we have 
more time to linger.” 

When the last rays of the setting sun were resting 
on the autumn leaves they left the thick woodland behind 
and came where good-sized farms and comfortable 
homes were in sight. Having traveled farther than usual 
that day, they were tired, and were glad to accept the 
kind invitation to alight when they halted in front of one 
of these homes. Muncy was greatly pleased to hear 
them use the same language the Friend missionaries did 
and was quite at home with them, feeling that it was a 
great privilege to visit some of these Friends in their own 
home and hear them talk in the large family of sisters 


104 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


and brothers where love and kindness prevailed. No 
burden appeared to rest on parents or children. With 
the existing harmony, nothing was said or done to mar 
the freedom and enjoyment of any one in the home. They 
not only cared for the strangers as their invited guests, 
but were glad to have them relate their experience. 

Realizing they were among friends, they told them 
how Blue Belle had been painted by the boys so 
as to pass for an Indian Queen and be safer traveling 
through the part of the country where she might be taken 
by some of the Indians. How they had failed to remove 
it with soap and water, having dried so long before try- 
ing to get it off. The manner in which they related this 
experience was amusing, especially to the young folks, 
but their grandmother's sympathy was manifested for 
the interesting young traveler when she volunteered to 
help her out of the trouble if she desired her to do so. 

^Then you think it can be taken off, or at least a 
part of it by some means? Oh, I would be so glad if it 
could." 

One of the girls said: “Oh, yes, grandmother has a 
remedy for our worst troubles. When mother and father 
fail, we always go to her. Mammy says she is rich in 
experience." 

“Why, Mary, how thee does talk. I would rather 
let imy work speak, as that alone is the real evidence. 
Come into my room, dear, and we will see what can be 
done," she said, addressing Blue Belle, who gladly follow- 
ed her, the mother telling her girls to get whatever their 
grandmother called for. One of them went for hot water, 
soap and towels. A smaller one was sent to get the 
combs and brushes out of the till of her large chest, one 


MEETING KIND FRIENDS. 


105 


of her brothers going along to carry the candle and lift 
the heavy lid. When she thought she had all that was 
sent for he reminded her of the soft cotton apron under 
the till which she was to get. 

‘'Oh, yes,'' she said. ‘T was forgetting that. I 
was thinking about which were the right combs and 
brushes. I am glad thee told me, now we'll not have to 
come back." 

When they had brought them to their grandmother, 
they hastened back to the living-room, where other mem- 
bers of the family were listening to the Indian woman 
conversing with their father and mother, all sitting in a 
circle around the large open fireplace, which gave both 
warmth and light. 

In the other room in front of a small fireplace. Blue 
Belle was sitting on a low chair and grandmother had 
begun her interesting task. “This paint on the cheek 
will have to be soaked with iodine. I will mix it with 
goose grease so it will not be too severe, then put it on 
first. This castile soap will surely remove every particle 
of black from thy face and neck, when used with hot 
water. This gummy stuff on thy hair will require some- 
thing else. Does thee know what sort of a mixture they 
made use of for this?" said she, lifting the dark unnatural 
mass with a hand, holding the candle in the other hand 
while she inspected it. 

“Well, it may have to be worked out by degrees. I 
have seen women, one at least, whose hair was in a 
worse condition, caused by a long spell of severe illness, 
when nothing could be done with her hair for six weeks. 
Her head had rolled upon the pillow until the long tress- 
es worked into a solid mass. She had been taken down 


106 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


so suddenly her attendants had no opportunity to pre- 
pare it by plaiting as we mostly do. The nurse thought 
it would have to be cut close to her head, but a sister 
came who had the patience to work with it by the hour, 
until little by little it was all straightened out and was nat- 
ural again. This hair will not require anything so tedi- 
ous. When we apply the right thing it will soon be all 
right. Now, if thee will sit on this stool close to the fire, 

I will put plenty of goose grease on and will try heating 
and rubbing it good for the benefit of the head as well as 
the hair. If that fails I will try castor oil.’^ 

''Well, I surely appreciate your kindness and care ' 
for me, a stranger who may never be able to return it in 
any way.*' 

"Yes, we can always find some one needing assist- 
ance, and remembering what Jesus said: 'In as much as 
ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye 
have done it unto Me.^ If in the spirit we will continue 
passing it on to others the need of all will be met. Well, 
my dear, I find the trouble giving way under the use of 
this stiff brush. If thee will turn around I can get at the 
other side better and a change in position will be more 
restful.^^ 

"Oh, isn’t that good, grandmother? All this side 
is getting soft and more natural.” 

"Yes, I think the stuff will all wash out now. Then 
the color will be all right again. We could have left this 
work till morning, but I know from what was said you 
would be anxious to be on your way early.” 

"Oh, yes, then think how much better I can rest 
knowing it is off. I had decided to go home as I was, 


MEETING KIND FRIENDS. 


107 


rather than spend any more time in what seemed a hope- 
less task.” 

**Yes, poor dear, it was, when you had no grease or 
hot water.” 

‘‘We have met with kind people all the way, yet I 
have felt more at home here than in all the months I have 
been away from my family.” 

“Well, I think you will in two or three days be at 
home.” 

“That is right, grandma, but the time seems so long. 
If we could go as fast as they say the steamboats do, why 
we could be there in less than a day on the Ohio River.” 

While they were talking, grandma was washing her 
head and soaking her hair in the basin of hot suds on her 
lap and was pleased to see the effect it was having on her 
face and neck, all but the painted part, the stripes 
not showing as plain as they did on the dark background. 
However, the fire was getting quite low now, but the water 
in the small kettle was hot yet. Making a lather first 
of the castile soap she spread it thickly over all the paint- 
ed parts on Blue Belle's face and neck. Dipping a soft linen 
cloth in a basin of hot water, she rubbed gently but firm- 
ly until the paint gave way and she could wash it off, 
which she did; then gave her a large basin of pure soft 
water on the wash-stand, where she enjoyed the best 
wash she had had for many days. 

When she had finished, she came and put her arms 
around the older woman and laid her soft warm cheek 
against her cool, wrinkled one, while she shed tears of 
joy and gratitude, more eloquent than words Thus they 
stood for a few moments, so quiet they could hear the 


108 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


conversation still going on with unabated interest in the 
next room. 

Then the grandmother said: **1 would like to have 
heard the red sister talk, but the children will remember 
most what she has said and will tell me after you are 
gone on your way.’' 

When they joined the circle around the large fire- 
place, they were all astonished, and Muncy shouted with 
joy, as her white sister was like herself again, since she 
had begun to fear she never would be. 

After a comfortable night’s rest and an appetizing 
breakfast, the travelers were refreshed and ready to re- 
sume their journey. With words of appreciation and 
some presents for the younger members of the family, 
they mounted their ponies and were riding briskly along 
in the fresh morning air. When the sunshine flooded 
hill and dale over the beautiful rolling land and well-till- 
ed fields of ripening corn. Blue Belle exclaimed: ‘‘We 
have crossed the line! We are in Ohio!” 

The remainder of the way was passed over as rapidly 
as their ponies could carry them. With hasty lunches 
beside the good road, where they found oats for the 
horses and a fresh supply of good things for their dinner, 
all put away in their saddle-bags by their friends without 
saying a word. 

“Only two days more. Really not more than one,” 
said Blue Belle, “for when we get to Columbus I will feel 
almost home.” 

So the last day was spent in the saddle, pressing for- 
ward, halting a few moments for the ponies to eat a few 
mouthfuls of oats at the noon hour, they pressed on say- 
ing, “if they watered them often they could keep up to 


MEETING KIND FRIENDS. 


109 


the end of the journey when they would have a good 
feed and be turned out for a long rest in a good pasture.” 

When at last they reached the woods road that led 
to Forest Home, great showers of leaves were falling 
from the red and yellow maples. Blue Belle said, ‘T was 
hoping we could get here in time to see these many-color- 
ed leaves before they had all fallen to the ground. These 
trees are beautiful yet, but see the road is covered with 
them too. The beech and most of the other trees have 
already shed their leaves. We just came in time. The 
glory of autumn will soon be over. How I do love to go 
through these fallen leaves'.” 

'Wes,” said Muncy. "It is many years since we rode 
over the beds of rustling leaves together.” 

"True,” said Blue Belle, "and it don't seem very 
long to me. I can't realize, for the time passes so rap- 
idly. Yet this part of the country shows but little 
change. This woods road, especially on this side. We 
hope it will remain a forest for many years. Most of our 
land is on the east end of this road, and takes in our play- 
ground over the river, with all the things we were most 
familiar with while growing up.” 


CHAPTER XIII. 


ARRIVING HOME. 


( ( E ARE nearly home now. How is this? They must 



W have opened up on that side farther westfrom the 
part that was cleared around our buildings. It was all 
forest on both sides when I went away. Yes, they have, 
and I believe they are working there now, cutting trees. 
Do you hear the sound of their axes?*' 

As they came nearer it ceased, and they saw two 
men coming toward the road to meet them. “Oh, yes, 
that is Jehu and my boy, Frank." Blue Belle sprang 
from her pony and climbing the rail fence, ran to meet 
them, coming back more slowly, leaning on her hus- 
band's arm, while Frank held her other hand, assisting 
her when possible to get over the fallen trees. 

They found Muncy standing by the road side, gaz- 
ing far out in the forest still in its primitive state, the 
released ponies cropping the fresh grass at her feet. 

“Well," said Jehu, coming up and grasping her 
hand warmly, “I see you have not lost the kind heart you 
possessed in your girlhood." 

“Yes, you see these faithful creatures have had no 
opportunity to get a mouthful of grass since yesterday." 

Frank, who had been busy talking and could 
scarcely move his eyes from his mother's face, now came 
forward at her suggestion to welcome Aunt Muncy, tell- 


ARRIVING HOME. 


Ill 


ing her how tired his neck was getting as it had to turn so 
often to look down the road to see if they were coming 
in sight, ‘‘but just when we were closely engaged in cut- 
ting a large tree, we heard Mammy’s pony nicker. We 
dropped our axes that time to look, and sure enough you 
were coming at last.. She knew she was getting back 
home. Yes, you did, poor, little, old pet. Do you know 
me. Starlight?” He put his arm around her neck, for 
she put her soft nose against his cheek caressingly. 
“Suppose I take the ponies up and get them relieved of 
the pack saddles and give them something more sub- 
stantial to eat.” 

“Yes,” said his mother. “I suppose Isabel is all 
right?” 

“Oh, yes, and grandfather, too.” 

“Who?” asked his mother, with a puzzled look on 
her face. 

“Why, son,” said his father, “you are abrupt. But 
maybe it is as well, for I want to talk to her on the sub- 
ject before they meet. Go slow, my boy, for they are 
watching the lane every day for their coming, you know, 
and will rush out to meet them, though I requested them 
to go slow. I think Isabel will understand the need of 
being careful on his account. 

“Oh, do explain,” said Blue Belle. 

Jehu replied, “Yes, dear, you will soon know all I 
do about the person Frank speaks of as grandfather, 
whom we thought might be your father. Yes, sit down 
on this log. It fell in this position and I thought we 
would leave it here for a seat by the side of the road.” 

When they were seated, he began. “Nearly two 
\yeeks ago a stranger, a gentleman, came to Forest 


112 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


Home, seeking for his long-lost daughter, always thinking 
she was among some of the Indians east or west, where 
so many had been driven. He met one of the Quaker 
missionaries soon after his return from the Indian Terri- 
tory, the same ones you were with on your journey West. 
When they told him all they knew of a white woman 
whose home was in the forest, who was interested 
enough to leave her family and go so far to see her 
adopted mother in her last days. Hope revived and he 
left his home in the East. Following their directions he 
traveled iilmost day and night that he might yet find the 
long-lost child. When he reached our home, worn out 
with anxiety and fatigue, he met Isabel, and the moment 
he saw her he lost consciousness. If I had not been be- 
side him he would have fallen. His condition was such 
that for several hours he was as if he had received a fatal 
shock. He finally revived and we are anxious about 
this meeting with you, as he has been looking forward 
to it with all the fervor of his sensitive nature. Knowing 
you were not expecting to see any of your own people 
and were too young to remember anything that could 
give us certain evidence, I wanted to tell you how we 
felt. Hoping you may be careful and not disappoint him 
too suddenly, if you can not receive him as your father, 
you can let him realize it gradually. I see they are com- 
ing now. Remember, dear,^' he said, in a lower voice, 
“he is a real gentleman of the Lafayette type of the 
French, and I know you always had a warm feeling for 
the French people at the forts.’’ 

He looked anxiously at his wife who sat there with 
her face hidden in her hands and had not moved or 
spoken a word, then turned to look at Muncy sitting 


ARRIVING HOME. 


113 


by her side. Great tears were rolling down her cheeks 
and she too was silent. What could it mean? 

With his staff in one hand and Isabel holding the 
other, the father approached them. Seeing his face was 
losing its color, Jehu stepped to his side. 

At the sound of her daughter's voice. Blue Belle 
arose quickly and clasped her to her breast. When she 
had held her for a few moments, Isabel whispered, “Dear 
Mammy, your father is longing for his child to recognize 
him.'’ 

Letting her go. Blue Belle turned and gazed on his 
face a moment as he leaned on the arm of her husband 
for support. Then reaching up, she threw her arms 
around his neck, drawing his face down to her own, she 
exclaimed, “Yes, thank Heaven, it is my own dear 
father." 

Turning to Jehu, she said : “I was going to spend the 
rest of my days searching for him and I knew you would 
help me, but it was a great surprise to find him already 
here, and to find him at home with you all." 

Just then Frank came up and shouting for joy, 
cried out: “I knew you would. Mammy, for he is just the 
best grandfather we ever saw. Judging from the way 
the ponies eat, I would think Mammy and Aunt Muncy 
were hungry." 

“Sure enough," said Isabel, “and I have plenty cook- 
ed. They can take their time coming. I want to have 
things hot," and she started for the house. Her brother, 
going faster than she, called back to her that the stove 
would be hot by the time she got there. 

The others slowly wended their way up the green 
lane, passed the inclosed yard and rustic seats in front 


114 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


of the new house which Blue Belle entered and was seat- 
ed on her new chair before she noticed any change in 
Forest Home. So absorbing were the many things that 
had taken place in a few short weeks, she felt like one 
in a happy dream going on and on into a more complete 
life. Then like one arousing from pleasant dreams, she 
began to look around her, first at the bright windows 
glistening in the evening sunlight, then the smooth white 
walls of the well-furnished room and the beautiful carpet 
each “met her admiring glance, while Jehu watched 
her with pleasure, and her father studied the face of the 
one he hoped was in very truth his long-lost child. 

Muncy sitting on the porch was wondering why Blue 
Belle had not told her what a fine home she had in the 
forest, when she heard Frank's voice, who had come in 
from the kitchen in time to see his mother's surprise, say- 
ing: ‘‘Mammy, did you know we thought, as it was time 
we were making some improvemnt, that we would have a 
great surprise in store for you by building and furnishing 
these rooms, and doing some other things while you were 
gone? We were doing it to please you, but it kept us 
from being so lonesome. We thought we had the big- 
gest surprise that was possible in store for you, until he 
came," he said, looking at her father. “So we had no part 
in your greatest surprise." 

“I thing you are mistaken, my dear boy, in your hav- 
ing no part in this meeting I have had with your mother. 
All of you had a part in bringing me up out of the dark 
shadows of death and giving me love and hope to look 
forward with you to the coming of this day, when hope 
is no longer deferred." 

“I had not seen it in that light, grandfather, but you 


ARRIVING HOME. 


115 


are mostly right. Whereas Aunt Muncy, Mother?*' he 
said, going to the front door. He was just bringing her 
in when Isabel appeared to announce supper, and all 
followed her into the dining-room. 

When supper was over. Blue Belle still absorbed in 
thought, retired to the room in the older part of the 
house, which had been the family bed-room. She found 
their saddle-bags just as Frank had placed them on the 
big chest when he brought them to the house. One by 
one she removed the packages until she came to the one 
she was looking for. Wrapped in the fawn skin, she held 
it in her hands and stood thinking for some time, then 
going to the old bureau she opened her private drawer 
and placed it under the linens she had left there before 
going away. While she thought, “How sacred these 
things are, yet can I ever show them to father and open 
the wound afresh, which I hope to obliterate by filling 
the evening of his life with love and good cheer?” With 
grateful feelings she thought it would not have to be de- 
cided now. “Jehu will help me. How can I be thank- 
ful enough for such a man and such children, and the 
privilege we have of comforting and brightening his life 
after all the sad years he must have had?” 

Leaving her father in his comfortable chair, lost 
as it were in meditation, Jehu went out to assist Frank 
with the evening work. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


THE TRAVELERS AT HOME. 

A unt Muncy hustling about with her sleeves tucked 
up and a large apron over her Indian dress, was giv- 
ing Isabel every possible assistance, while she admired the 
stove and all the modern improvements from the dough 
chest and new tinware to the sink for washing dishes in. 
But most of all was the new cupboard, with its glass 
front, through which could be seen a great variety of 
flowered dishes. 

‘T guess we have made so much change we have over- 
whelmed Mammy,” said Frank. ‘T wish she could enjoy 
everything like Aunt Muncy does.” 

‘^Never mind, my boy, that will come in time. She 
has had so much to think about lately, it is necessary for 
her to be alone and have time to think it over. She has 
met with as much in a few weeks as some people do in a 
lifetime.” 

‘‘Well, I hope it will be all right, but I want to see 
Mammy like she was before she went away.” Then he 
started for the bam, pondering over two questions, neith- 
er one possible for him to solve. The first was his moth- 
er. How could she receive and be so fully satisfied that 
she had found her father? Only asking one question. 


THE TRAVELERS AT HOME. 


117 


his name, and hearing that she had met him with the joy 
of one who had found a father, who had long been ab- 
sent. He was so glad for grandpa's sake that she could 
receive him with open arms. But how she could do this 
and never have heard anything about her parents, he 
could not make out. The other was concerning Aunt 
Muncy, who was as happy and jovial as a young girl, if 
possible more so than his bright cheerful sister, Isabel. 
He had expected she was good, but somehow he was 
thinking of her as a disappointed maiden lady and not 
very happy. He saw his father down by the com crib 
and determined to consult him He found him as anxious 
to talk the subject over as he was. 

‘There is something mysterious about your mother 
I fail to understand. She found changes in her home, it 
is true, but she has something of more importance on her 
mind than any of these things, and her attitude is not 
such as indicates surprise. She is more like one over- 
whelmed with gratitude for the fulfillment of some earn- 
est longing of the soul. It must have been awakened 
while in the West, as she showed no anxiety about the 
future before she left home, never saying anything about 
the possibility of having relatives anywhere. Yet it ap- 
peared from what she said, she was intending to search 
for her father if she had not found him here." 

“Well, I suppose we will understand all about it 
when Mammy gets rested and tells about her experience 
while among the Indians. She must have heard some- 
thing concerning her people." 

“Well," said his father, “I hope everything is working 
out for good and we should be thankful enough to wait 
now that she is safe home with us again." 


118 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


‘'Yes, indeed,” said Frank. “I ought to be ashamed. 
Sure ril not say anything to any one else and I hope she 
will be like herself in a few days, but I would like to 
know what you think about Aunt Muncy.- She appears 
to be delighted with everything new, and just as happy 
as a young girl, preparing to have a house of her own. 
You know I never saw her before. Somehow I was ex- 
pecting to see her very sober at her age, a disappointed 
old maid.” 

Just then a merry laugh rang out behind them, and 
they both turned quickly, for it had the natural ring as 
they used to hear it. 

“Why, my boy, I can tell you more about Aunt 
Muncy than your father can. He knew her many years 
ago. She has had much experience since then. When 
I met her, in the time of her mother's illness and death, 
she was a patient, lovable Christian woman. One whom 
the trials and disappointments in life served to purify 
rather than embitter. On our return from the West, we 
came across the lover from whom she had been separated 
for many years. Now they are very happy with the 
brightest prospects for the future. A new home to build 
away out in the Indian Territory. Now she has an op> 
portunity to prepare for the furnishing of her own home, 
and be able to meet every requirement in the home in 
which she and her adored Lightfoot expect to live and 
their home worthy to be imitated by all the women and 
girls of her tribe among her people, who will rejoice 
when they hear that she intends to return and live near 
them in a home of her own.” 

“Well, that is fine. I remember Lightfoot. We 
used to work and hunt together before the war in which 


THE TRAVELERS AT HOME. 


119 


the French were driven away. I suppose he went with 
Muncy's tribe to the West." 

*‘Yes," said Blue Belle. ‘‘We have much to tell, but 
I want to look around some. I see you have built a pen 
for our wild hogs." 

“Oh, yes. We fed out quite a lot of them some time 
ago. We give them all the corn they can eat, then drive 
them to Pittsburgh market." 

“Well, that is good," said Blue Belle. “That killing 
job always distressed me." 

“Yes, we have none of that trouble now and make 
so much more out of them, too." 

“Yes, and you like to lean on the fence and watch 
them eat when you have time. I was close to you before 
you knew I was here. I came down the lane, now I 
want to go over the orchard. We can have a little time 
as father is resting on the lounge and Muncy is helping 
Isabel with her work. I think they are fixing to bake 
bread or something," she said, as she went after a large 
rosy apple she saw in the grass. 

Then they went over the orchard, row by row, 
gleaning a few fine apples, that being out of reach at the 
time of gathering had now dropped of their own accord. 
By the time they had gone over them all, they had a va- 
riety of choice apples, and Blue Belle was delighted, 
saying, “It was very kind of you to leave a few, for I love 
above all things to glean. I wonder what Muncy will 
think of these. She made a great ado over some a farm- 
er gave us on our way home, but these are nicer than any 
we saw." 

“Yes," said Jehu, “and we have a pretty good mark- 
et for apples at forty to fifty cents a bushel and thirty 


120 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


cents for oats, but I believe hogs and com will be the 
riches of Ohio when we get enough land cleared/' 

“Yes, it is wonderful to travel a long distance over 
the country and see the stalwart men cutting down the 
forests in some places, in others rolling them together 
with their hand spikes, which I think would test the 
backs of the strongest men following it up all day. 
Others were getting them together with ox teams and 
firing them while yet green.'' 

“I see the children are milking and Muncy is out 
helping. I would like to go over to them, but the sun 
will soon be down and we have not been in the garden 
yet." 

“Well," said Jehu, “I'll take the apples into the 
kitchen; they'll be nice for lunch, as we had an early 
supper." Coming out they went into the garden. “Some 
things have been cut down with the heavy frost, but so 
long as it don't freeze the vegetables are fine. Isabel 
has been hoping you would get home in time to enjoy 
them." 

“My," said Blue Belle, “but you do have a fine gar- 
den. So much nice cabbage and everything else. You 
have dug the potatoes and gathered the apples and 
pears, but I got here in time to gather beans and pull 
the beets and squashes. What will Muncy say when 
she sees this garden? Really we should have waited 
until they could be with us." 

“Well, here we are," said Frank, holding the gate 
open for his sister and aunt. 

“'When Frank told me you were in the garden, I 
never stayed to wash up the milk things," said Isabel. 


THE TRAVELERS AT HOME. 


121 


“They can wait till we get back, as I left a good fire in 
the stove and water in the tea-kettle.’^ 

Her mother met her on the walk and taking both her 
hands in her own, pressed them to her lips. “Poor little 
hard hands, they have ^een doing a double amount of 
work while mother was away. I surely appreciate what 
you have done, for I know how much work it takes to 
keep the weeds down and have a garden like this. Then 
all the corn in shock and the apples gathered. The 
building with all the hauling that it would take. I can’t 
see how you could accomplish so much.” 

“No, you can’t realize what a worker our boy has 
become,” said her husband. 

“Oh, we have been very fortunate. Mammy,” said 
Frank. “A carpenter got lost in the forest east of us and 
wandered around till he came to our clearing, and as the 
light was shining through greased paper he soon found 
our house. Of course. Daddy took him in for the night 
and found out next morning he was just the man he want- 
ed, so he persuaded him to stay. I tell you he did a good 
job building the house. Never a mistake. Did he Sis?” 

“Not any that I have noticed,” faltered Isabel. 

As her mother thought she appeared embarrassed, 
she said, “Well we can look over the house in the morn- 
ing. I will be rested then. I am glad to see the old 
house standing yet, it would not be like home without 
that. But the glass windows and whitewash are a great 
improvement.” 

Just then Muncy came up the walk and said, “I 
have been going all over the garden and I never saw 
anything so nice before. I want to get it all in my mind. 
These flower beds at the entrance, with this wide, smooth 


122 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


walk, kept as clean as a floor, are just the thing to keep 
one cheered up while cultivating the vegetables. The 
beautiful combined with the useful. That is ideal and I 
want to have one just like this at my home/' 

They all laughed. But her sister said. ‘‘She means 
just what she says and she expects to have a good man 
to help her carry out all her plans." 

“Sure then I must congratulate you," said Jehu, ex- 
tending his hand to his almost sister for a hearty shake. 
“I knew you travelers had something important on your 
minds." 

“Yes," said Blue Belle, “we have indeed when we 
have time to consider just how much of it ought to be 
told. I am sure it would be more than father would be 
able to bear now. Aunt Muncy can tell you all about our 
narrow escape from the wolves," she said, tiiinirg to 
Frank and Isabel, “and as the evenings are chilb^^, you 
had better come in by the fire." 

“Yes," said Isabel. “I was forgetting to finish my 
work:" And they all started in, Frank and his father 
stopping at the wood-house to take wood with them, as 
was their habit when coming in the back way. 

Isabel and Muncy went to the kitchen, while Blue 
Belle went to look for her father. She found he had not 
been asleep. She smoothed his face with her hands and 
brushed back all the stray locks from his forehead. When 
she saw his eyes were about to overflow with tears, she 
used her little soft 'kerchief and wiped them away. When 
he could speak he said, “No, my dear child. I suppose 
I must have been too thankful to sleep. No, I was not 
lonesome and the time did not seem long, for I had so 
much to think about." 


THE TRAVELERS AT HOME. 


123 


They were in the large living-room in the older 
part of the house, where a bright fire was burning in the 
great fireplace, where she had done her cooking. The 
room had been kitchen and general living and sleeping- 
room when the children were younger. 

‘'Yes, father, our hearts are full of gratitude to-night. 
Would you like to sit in this big chair while we talk?'^ 


CHAPTER XV. 


HEAVEN'S REWARD. 

T hey could hear the voices of the others in the kitch- 
en, and finding her father would like to hear what 
Muncy was about to relate of their experience with the 
wolves, she requested them to all come in. 

As Muncy was a person gifted in relating things in 
a way that made them interesting, they were soon lis- 
tening to every word, absorbed in her account. 

Blue Belle sat leaning, or rather resting her head 
against the back of her chair, with closed eyes, while 
Isabel sat on a stool at her feet, with her arms resting on 
her mother's lap, her favorite position. 

All were surprised, especially Blue Belle's father, 
that one of the Indians could be giving them such a vivid 
description of their journey, and their very narrow es- 
cape from a fate that would have prevented tneir ever 
knowing what had become of them. 

When she came to the part where Blue Belle rush- 
ed out among them with her firebrands, they were so de- 
lighted and relieved as to make a break in the narrative. 
Frank shouted: “That was a brave little mother. She 
was always quick to think and action came with her 
thought." 


HEAVEN’S REWARD. 


125 


‘‘Now/’ said Muncy, “I want Blue Belle to tell you 
of our experience that night we spent in the Indian’s 
cabin in the great woods. She alone can tell you that 
which unveiled to her a part of her childhood.” 

She had been thinking while Muncy was talking and 
had made up her mind as to how she should tell of the 
things revealed on that never-to-be-forgotten night. 
While they were talking in a general way, asking ques- 
tions which Muncy could answer, she went to the bed- 
room and without a light secured the little box and its 
contents from where it was hidden under the linen in 
the drawer. Going back to the family with it in her 
hand, her heart was strong in the faith she had of being 
kept from saying anything that would bring up afresh 
the grief her father had bourne so many years. The 
most sacred things in connection with it had been remov- 
ed from the box and wrapped in the fawn skin and were 
left hidden away, if only the part hidden in her mind 
could remain silent as these would. 

When she sat down in her chair by the fireside, they 
were looking at the little box she held in her hands. It 
occurred to her it might be best to show them the neck- 
lace and then answer such questions as would satisfy 
them without going into the details of the Indian’s ex- 
perience as related by Lightfoot. She removed the lid 
and held it up in the firelight, asking her father if he had 
ever seen it before. 

‘Oh, yes,” said he, “and it was on your neck that 
fatal day. Recognize it? I should think I do.” 

“Well, look at this name engraved underneath. The 
initials made me think my name might be Isabel.” 


126 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


‘'You imagined right, for that was your name and 
this your necklace.’^ 

“Can you remember anything about it?^' asked her 
husband. “Where did you find it? Had your almost 
sister been keeping it for you?'’ 

Blue Belle sat looking into the fire. The necklace 
had brought up more questions than could be answered 
without bringing up things she wished to avoid. “Jehu, 
you will just have to wait, I know you never saw nor 
heard of it before ; neither can I remember anything 
about it." 

“Well, your father knows it belonged to his little 
daughter who was carried away by an Indian. Yet that 
does not give us the real evidence that you were the one," 
said her husband. “I believe you are, but I wanted him 
to have the satisfaction of knowing without a doubt." 

Turning to her father, she said : “If it were possible 
to have the past opened up before you, that terrible 
event that took away from you all the joy in life, could 
you bear it now? If it gave you positive evidence that 
I am your own child?" 

Jehu sat motionless. The older man arose to his 
feet. Lifting both hands as far above him as he could 
reach, as if to emphasize his words, while he exclaimed 
in a tragical voice : “Heaven has known my grief for them 
and I have found comfort, for the ones gone into the high- 
er life seem near sometimes. But you can not know the 
anxiety I have gone through for the living. My lovely 
child gone, I knew not where. How I sought for her, 
longing and hoping, until hope deferred made my heart 
ache and grow weary again and again. It was like lis- 
tening for a voice you can not hear, and waiting for a 



“My lovely child gone, I knew not where.” 




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HEAVEN’S REWARD. 


127 


presence that never comes. So I can have no greater 
joy at this time than to know you have had and can give 
me that evidence.” 

‘‘Well, I can assure you I have had the account from 
the lips of the one whose father did the cruel deed. 
Wasn’t my mother’s hair just like my Isabel’s, and my 
brother’s short silken curls? And you called me Bell 
and my name was changed to Blue Belle, and we have 
never heard of any of that name before, and do you ever 
see many persons with eyes the color of blue mine are?” 

'*Yes, some of your mother’s people had eyes of that 
particular shade of blue, but they are by no means com- 
mon,” said her father. ''Oh, do not for a moment feel 
that you do not seem my child,” he cried out, clasping her 
in his arms, until her head rested on his breast. "If we 
could always be satisfied with what our hearts tell us of 
the truth we might be happy, but skeptical man always 
wants to know for himself. Oh, my daughter, my own 
darling child! I have suffered much to live for you, but 
now I am satisfied I have found you at last.” 

While he held her and stroked her soft wavy hair, 
Jehu went for Muncy and the children, who had gone 
to the parlor of the new house, and they all rejoiced to- 
gether. 

Blue Belle finally said, wishfully looking up into his 
face, from the stool on which she sat with her arms rest- 
ing on his knees, "Father, I expect you have a feeling of 
aversion for all Indians, because one of them robbed you 
of life’s charms. But they are not all cruel, father. Even 
the one who did that dreadful deed, repented, was re- 
generated, and lived a Christian life. The Saviour reach- 
ed him through the death of your innocent child, or was 


128 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


it his life for the smile he gave him when the weapon 
was lifted to strike the fatal blow never left him, until the 
cruel brave was redeemed to a Christian life, and influ- 
ence for good, though his family and tribe were all lost 
to him, by the slaughter of white men, but one child 
with whom he escaped. He taught that son that it gives 
us no comfort to revenge our wrongs, and he lived alone 
with him in the great woods for many years, to prevent 
the tribe who had taken them in from training him for 
what they are taught to admire, a great, strong, cruel 
brave. Instead he will now be a missionary for good 
among the Indians. This, my almost sister, who has 
already been a power for good among them, will be his 
companion in the work,'' she said, turning to Muncy. 

“Oh, I am so thankful to hear this," said her father. 
“Then the short life of my little son was not lost. His 
sweet smile is now influence for good, still going on in the 
world. It must be through inward pain and human sym- 
pathy we ever become able to forgive our enemies, and 
unless we do we can not come into a condition in which 
to be benefitted by Divine forgiveness." 

Then addressing Muncy, he inquired : “What was 
your father's name, and do you have a brother living?" 

“My father was Chief Half Moon, and my brother, 
Oceola, disappeared the time of the French and Indian 
War. He must not have fallen in battle, for we heard 
he had been seen at Fort Duquesne, just before the 
French sailed away, leaving it in flames." 

“The reason I inquire," said he, “is because I think 
I have seen your brother in France. Did it ever occur to 
you, that seeing Belle going with Jehu, while all your 
homes were laid waste and your people driven out, that 


A HEART TO HEART TALK. 


129 


he might have gone with the French when they left this 
country, and is probably living in France yet? You may 
think so when I tell you what occurred there some twen- 
ty years ago. A niece of mine became acquainted with 
a young Chief named Oceola. She was young at the 
time and her grandmother, who had the care of her, 
discouraged the friendship, and her family did every- 
thing they could to get her mind turned in some other 
direction. He was going to the same school and was a 
general favorite with his schoolmates, especially with 
the girls. They sent her to another school to finish her 
education and kept them apart for several years, but she 
married him at last. Since then I have heard they were 
doing well, but she was persuading him to come to Amer- 
ica to live and engage in missionary work among his peo- 
ple.’’ 

Muncy stood with hands pressed together while she 
listened. ‘‘Did you say his name was Oceola?” 

“Yes, that is the name. It was his likeness to you 
and what Jehu had told me of their early life together, 
that led me to think he might be your brother. I heard 
of his disappointment, too, and the fact that the young 
girl he wooed and won for his wife bears a striking re- 
semblance to my daughter. Belle, her eyes, her voice and 
deep-toned laughter.” 

“Well, surely everything is working together for 
good,” said Muncy. “And they are educated, too?” 

“Yes,” said he, “and have the means with which to 


130 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


travel and spend doing good. I have seen the truth as 
expressed by the English poet: 

‘When wealth to virtuous hands is given, 

It blesses like the dews of Heaven.’ ” 

And the evening closed for the inmates of Forest 
Home, with thanksgiving and praise. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


A HEART TO HEART TALK. 

A ll were resting for the night, except Jehu and Blue 
Belle, who sat talking on subjects she wished to 
discuss with him alone. She brought out the precious 
relics, given her by Lightfoot, of her mother and little 
brother. After he examined them, she said: "‘Do you 
think I can ever show them to father?’^ 

''Yes, maybe you can when he has grown stronger 
and better in health. With you and the children to live 
for he may be able to carry out the plans he has already 
been making; the education of Frank and Isabel in the 
schools they have in the East at present, beginning the 
coming winter, and traveling and recreation for us. He 
thinks we deserve a rest after so many years of toil. He 
wants to take us to France and give us an opportunity 
to see more of the world while we are resting.” 

"Poor, dear, father, he must have plenty of means. 
It will do him good to have use for it, but I think it will 
be better for his health to stay here and rest and enjoy 
the very dearest place in the world to me.” 

"I don't expect you do feel like going away just 
now; neither do I with you here to make everything so 
enjoyable.” 


132 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


'‘But I have been wanting to know about Isabel/' 
she said, changing the subject. “I noticed when you and 
Frank were talking about the carpenter, she was feeling 
more than she wished to be known on the subject, so I 
passed it over as lightly as possible and asked no more 
questions about him. What do you think or know about 
the matter?" 

“The only thing I know is that if she were interested 
any more in the young man than her brother or myself 
were, why, it is her secret. Of course, a concerned 
mother always sees further than we fathers do. Yet, I 
noticed she was showing a great deal of interest when 
her grandfather was talking about the schools in the 
East, and she mentioned one I think young Downing is 
expecting to attend next year. He is fine looking and 
remarkably intelligent. He said his grandfather came 
from England with William Penn, bought a large tract of 
land and settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania. But 
he had an ambition to see some of the Western country 
and accomplish something with his own hands. He is 
certainly a fine carpenter and a promising young man. 
I know he appeared to admire our daughter, but she is 
too discreet to encourage intimate acquaintance with a 
stranger, and she had had very little opportunity in a 
social way. She might be deeply interested for anything 
I know, and I am very glad she can have her mother to 
confide in now, as she will do when you are alone to- 
gether." 

“Yes, I have not been alone with her yet, or Frank, 
either. I am so glad father is not prejudiced against the 
Indians. He will find Muncy's mind well stored with 
things that are going on in the West, and she will enjoy 


A HEART TO HEART TALK. 


133 


hearing how things are progressing in the Old World, 
as much as I will.'^ 

'Tt will be a great pleasure to you both to hear him 
talk on that and other subjects. I have been thinking 
we should have him invite your almost brother to his 
sister, Muncy^s, wedding, the next time he writes to your 
people abroad. Then they could have a visit here and 
go with them back to her home.’’ 

“Oh, yes,'’ said Blue Belle. “And get her to bring 
Muncy a wedding gown. It is really wonderful how 
things have turned out for my red sister. You see my 
cousin being so like me will make it easier for her to 
give me up. If she enjoys missionary work they can 
start a settlement of helpers. Several tribes in that part 
of the country have caught the spirit of advancement 
now from what those Eastern missionaries told me.” 

“I want to have a visit with them sometime when we 
can travel by steam. When we have the children ready 
for school, their grandfather will be very happy and 
proud to take them with him to the East. It will be a 
rich experience for them. I am so glad they can both 
go, as they have never been separated yet.” 

“Yes, and how fortunate it is that Muncy will be 
with us, getting ready for her wedding. Preparations 
for home-making will prevent us from getting so lone- 
some. Maybe we can get Lightfoot to visit us in the 
winter when he can’t go on with his work.^’ 

It will seem like old times when we were young 
folks together.” 

“You have not seen him for a long time. I should 
think you would scarcely know him now,” she continued. 


134 


BLUE BELLE OF THE FOREST. 


“He is a tall, good-looking, well-built man, in the prime 
of life.” 

“Oh, yes,” said he, “we must have him here before 
the great event to come off in the spring. It will pre- 
pare him better to meet the changes that are coming, 
for I imagine our home will combine with the wildness 
of the forest some of the culture and improvement, art 
and invention are bringing to us. Your father’s advent 
into the family will increase the latter, for we are pre- 
pared to entertain his friends, and our children’s friends 
at Forest Home. But you must get to rest. We could 
talk all night and not be much more than started, be- 
cause our minds have been so full. It will take several 
weeks to relate all, or even half of our experience since 
we have been apart.” 

“Yes, indeed,” she said. “But listen! What noise 
is that I hear? Oh, yes, it is the chickens, they are 
crowing for midnight, our own crowers. Yes, and our 
own clock is striking the hour. How good it is to be at 
home !” 

“Well, I am just as glad to have you here, and glad- 
der yet that you can rest in my arms to-night with noth- 
ing to make us afraid, while we look forward, trusting 
that we may be worthy of the prosperity and happiness 
we are to reap in our dear old, and new. Forest Home.” 


THE END. 


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